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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  ia  mdthode. 


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1 


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4 

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6 

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I 

\  t 


HISTORY 


OF  THB 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


FROM  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  CONTINENT. 


BY 


GEORGE  BANCROFT. 


.1^ 


®l)c  ^utl)or's  Cast  Ucoisiait. 


v"  -^  X-^    ' 


VOLUME    IV. 


\ 


NEW  YORK: 

B.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY. 

1889. 


COPYBTOdT, 

Bv    CEOUGE    UANflJOFT. 

1858,  1800,  1876,  1884,  ls86.  ' 


/ 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  FOUHTH  YOLUME. 


THE  AMERICAN   REVOLUTION 


IX  FIVE  EPOCHS. 


JIL— AMERICA   TAKES  UP  A/IMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE  AND  ARRIVES  AT 

INDEPENDENCE. 

CHAPTER   I. 

AMERICA   8USTAIXS   THE   TOWN    OF    BOSTON. 

•  Afiiy  1774. 
The  American  revolution.     Its  necessity.     Its  principle 


M.-st  cherished  in  America.     Britain  should  have  oiTered  independence 
Infatuation  of  the  king  and  parliament.     Port  act  received  in  Boston 
Meeting  of  nine  committees.     The  tea  not  to  be  paid  for 
Circular  to  the  colonies.     Boston  town-meeting.     Gage  arrives 
His  character.     J'irmncss  of  Newburyport,  Palem,  and  Boston 
New  York  Sons  of  Liberty  propose  a  general  congress  . 
Formation  of  a  conservative  party         ..... 
Kffect  of  the  port  act  in  Connecticut  and  Providence     . 

New  York  committee  of  fifty-one 

The  king  approves  two  acts  against  Massachusetts.     Philadelphia 

Dickinson's  measures 

New  York  and  Connecticut  plan  a  congress    .... 

Hutchinson's  addressers 

Suppression  of  murmurs.     The  Massachusetts  Legislature     . 

Patience  of  Boston 

Baltimore,  the  model.     New  Ilampshire.     New  Jersey  . 

Sympathy  of  South  Carolina  for  Boston.     Virginia 

Its  burgesses  appoint  a  fast ;  are  dissolved  ;  hold  a  meeting 

Convention  called  in  Virginia.     North  Carolina.     Union  of  the  country 

CHAPTER   II. 

PREPARATIONS   FOR   A   GENERAL   CONGRESS. 

Juno-Aiigust  1774:. 

Blockade  of  Boston 

Effects  elsewhere.    The  mandamus  councillors 


FAOR 
3 

4 

5 

0 

7 

8 

9 

9 

10 

10 

11 

12 

1:3 

13 

14 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 


19 
20 


ir 


COXTENTS. 


The  troops  may  be  crdered  'o  fire  on  ti.e  people    . 

The  m,s  an<i  Su,„uel  A.la.nH.     The  new  league  and  covenant"        [ 

il  ;:;'""  "'  ''^'""-     I'^-^'J^^R"  -f  tl.  coundl.     TI.  house 
More  troops  iirrive 

Firmness  of  tiie  people  .        ' 

J^lassachusetts  appoi  Us  ti>ne  and  place  for  the  continenial  congresis 
(.aRc  dissolves  its  assembly  .        .         ,  " 

Joiin  Adams  in  IJoston  town-meeting    '. 

Promptness  of  Khodo  Island  and  of  Maryland      '         "        '        ' 
Generous  conduct  of  .Marblehead  and  Sau'.n..     lutngues"  of  fiac^o    ' 

!ddr";  T7:f-"'  '"'"""'  ""-■"•  ^■"'""""-  "^  ™rresponden''ce  ! 
Address  to  Ilutclnnson.     Gage's  proclamation        .        . 

Threats  of  arrest  not  executed 

Ilutcbinson  reaches  England.     His  imerview"with'the  kin-    "         " 

1  he  kmg  eonh.lent.     Boston  ministered  to  by  the  Caroliua^s 

tonnecticut.     (Quebec.     Dehnvare.     Maryland 

And  by  Virginia    ....  •         •         •         . 

Public  spirit  in  New  York.     State'of  parties 

Character  of  John  Jay.  New  York  delegates  to  congress  .'  ' 
Opposinun  to  the  nomination  in  the  Xcw  York  .co„n„itteo  .  ' 
South  larohna  elects  its  deputies.  Timidity  of  Dickinson  .  " 
Pcnns.vlvania  chooses  its  deputies.  New  Jersey.  New  Ilampshir; 
Compromise  between  the  parties  in  New  York 

Decision  of  Virginia.     Of  North  Caroliha      ."        .'        .'        '        ' 


PAOB 

•Zi) 

21 

22 

22 

23 

23 

23 

21 

2t 

25 

25 

20 

20 

27 

28 

28 

29 

80 

31 

31 

82 

33 

34 

84 

35 

30 


CHAPTER  III. 

MASSACnrSETTS   DEFEATS   T.tE   ATTEMPT   OF   TtTE   BBITI8n   PARLIAMENT 
TO    CHANGE    ITS    CIIARTEK. 

May-August  1774. 
Character  of  Louis  XVI. 

Marie  Antoinette.     Caron  de  Beaumarchais  ..'.""' 
Choice  of  Maurepas  as  chief  minister.     His  character 
Vergennes  minister  of  foreign  affairs.     His  character    .'        .'        " 
Turgot  minister  of  finance     ...  '        ' 

Abuses  in  the  French  finances.    Turgot'plans  reform 

Franee  leans  to  the  colonies.    Gage  receives  the  regulating  act".    Itsd.araeter  . 
Two  other  acts  against  Massachusetts.     Boston  consults  the  country  towns 
Answer  from  Pepperell  ...  " 

Spirit  of  resistance.  Thomas  Gardner. "  Number  of  th^  mili'tia.  Putnam  ' 
Char  es  Lee.  Opinions  of  Hawley.  Courts  of  New  Hampshire  broken  up  " 
Mandnn,useouncdlors.     Ruggles.     Timothy  Paine.     Murray  " 

?htrlct"n"'"rT  ?'"";-  ^^'---husetts  delegates  in  Connecticut  '.  [ 
They  reach  the  Hudson.     New  York  disinclined  to  war 

Suffolk  county  convention.    Convention  of  three  counties  in  Boston      '        ' 


37 
38 
89 
40 
41 
42 

43 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

60 

51 

52 


CONTENTS. 


PAQI 
.       2U 

.     21 
.     23 
.     22 
.     23 
.     23 
.     23 
.     24 
.     24 
.     25 
.     25 
.     20 
.     20 
.     27 
.    28 
.    28 
.    29 
.    80 
.     31 
.     31 
.     32 
.     33 
.     34 
.     34 
.     35 
.     36 


Court  at  SprinRfii  Id  iatcrruptod.    Supremo  court  in  Boston 
MiJUlcsc-t  conveutiou  at  Concord  . 


fAOB 

.     53 
.     64 


37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 

43 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

61 

52 


CIIAPTKM  IV. 

THE    FIUST    A.IKIMCAN    COJfO'IFSS. 

iSepteiJibor-October  1774. 
Gago  seizes  tlio  powder  of  the  province.     The  people  rise      . 
More  councillors  resign.     (J„od  coiKiiiet  of  the  pcoi)lo.     Opinions  of  I'ox 
Hising  of  tlio  people.     Courage  of  Putnam.     Consu(|uences  of  the  risin 
Cage  requires  more  troops.     Wishes  to  raise  Canadians  and  Indians 

England  seeks  Indian  alliances 

Cage  fortifies  Hoston.     The  court  at  Worcester  interrupted   . 

The  Suffollc  convention.     Its  resolutions 

Formation  of  regimtnts.     Fearlessness  of  Warren 

Massachusetts  wishes  to  revive  its  old  charter.     The  congress  organized 

"he  method  of  voting.     Speech  of  Patrick  Henry  ... 

Tlic  vote  by  colonies  conceded.     Congress  is  opened  with  prayer   . 

The  psalm  for  the  day.     The  foundation  and  extent  of  colonial  rights 

Influence  of  Samuel  Adams.     Congress  approve  the  Suffolk  resolutions 

Dissolution  of  parliament.     Uncertainty  of  Gage  .... 

Gage  avoids  meeting  the  Massachusetts  assembly 

The  general  congress  find  their  grievances  to  be  Innovations 

Congress  accept  the  act.s  of  navigation.     Plan  of  Galloway    . 

His  defeat.     Pennsylvania  elects  Dickinson  to  congress 

Sympathy  of  congress  for  Boston.     Maryland  puni'shos  the  Importers  of  tea 

A  letter  from  Washington.     The  resistance  of  Massachusetts  ajjproved 

Sentence  passed  unon  eleven  acts  of  parliament     .... 

Congress  tlweaten  to  stop  British  imports  and  exports  . 

Tlie  slave-trade  discontinued.     Congress  address  the  British  people 

Congress  petition  the  king 

Independence  not  yet  desired         .         .      '  , 

Preparations  for  war  which  Henry  predicts 


fi5 
56 
57 
57 
58 
59 
59 
00 
01 
02 
04 
05 
00 
07 

08 

08 

09 

70 

71 

72 

73 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 


CriAPTEK  V. 

now   BRITAIN  BEGAN   CATnOUO  EMANCIPATION,  AND   HOW    VIKGI.XIA    NULLI- 
FIED  THE    QUEBEC    ACT, 

October-November  1774. 

Patrick  Henry's  opinion  of  Washington 

Massacluisetts  forms  a  congress  and  prepares  for  war    .... 

Acts  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts 

The  emancipation  of  Catholics  in  Canada ' 

Restoration  of  the  French  system  of  law.     Canadian  nobility  conciliated 

Establisliment  of  the  Catholic  worship 

Congress  get  the  better  of  tlieir  bigotry  against  Catholics 

Their  address  to  the  Canadians.     Virginia  opposes  the  Quebec  act 


78 

78 
79 
79 
80 
80 
81 
82 


COXTENTS. 


Diimiiorc'rt  rnpncity       .... 

He  occpics  Pittsburg  and  it.  .IeptM,.lenci..H.  '  The' Liu-u'woodsmcn " 

1  lii-y  take  ^t'vell^'<•  for  mindcr.s  by  Indiiiiis 

CroHiip'.s  priviUi!  war.     I,o;,'air.-i  revenge 

Dunnmre  calls  out  the  militia  of  tiie  Soutli-wer.t 

(ireat  victoiy  of  the  Virf,'iniati.s  near  Point  Pleasant 

iJntnuoru  eoneludeH  a  peace  witli  tlie  ShawneeH       .         .        '        ' 

The  wcHtern  Virj,'iniaiiM  as.sert  the  ri^'lils  of  Anie.i.a 
Procecdhig.s  in  South  Carolina  and  Maryhmd 

CHAPTER    VI. 

THE   FOirnTKENTII    PAHLIAMEXT   OF   ClUEAT    nitlTAIN, 

October  1774-Jnniiary  20,  1775. 
Hopefulness  of  Warren.     Venality  of  Heats  in  parliament 


^V  estnnn.-ter  eleels  tories  ;  jturko  Hueeeeds  in  IJristol 
(iuge  reports  the  state  of  America         ..."""" 
Opinions  of  the  king,  the  lords,  the  commons' ;  of  Franklin    '. 
Confidence  of  the  ministry    ...  ... 

Fortitude  of  Massaehusett..     Seizures  in  Rhode  Island  ;  in  V..v  Hann.shin 

Cot.  .t,on  of  Massachusetts.     Its  clergy.     Maguanin.i-y  of  lios.on 

Ihe  king  receives  the  petition  of  congress 

liriruin  ungual  to  the  war.     Lord  llowc  in  v'ain  m.goti^tos  with  Franklin 

Jamaica  olfers  its  mediation.     Views  of  the  French  ministry 

Chatham's  positi(m.     His  interview  with  Franklin 

Chatham  and  IJockingham  differ.     American  papers  laid  bef'orc  p^rlia.nont 

Virgm-a  Presbyterians  in  council.     Their  deeisi,,,, 

Speech  of  Chatham  for  removing  the  army  from  Uoston"        '         '         " 

Jlis  eulogy  of  the  American  jjcoplc         ...  ■         .         . 

Of  the  wisdom  of  congress 

The  king's  anger  at  Chatham.     The  deliate  h",  Un'uoJo  of  lords  ."         ' 

Oood  ellects  ot  Chatham's  sj.  jcch 

'■■•••• 

CHAPTER   VI r. 

THE   KING    DECLARES   MASSACnUSETTS   I.V   KEBELUOX. 

January-February  177,5. 
Firm  union  of  the  continent.     The  policy  of  Georgia 
Movements  in  .Alaryland  and  Virginia    .        . 
In  Delaware  ;  in  Xew  Vork  . 

The  old  \ew  York  assembly  falters       ..'.'"' 
The  conduct  of  Pennsylvania  and  Xew  Jersey        "         '         •        • 
The  old  New  York  assembly  sends  no  delegates  to"  the  next  Jon^-rcss 
The  press  of  New  Yo,k.     Pamphlets  of  Alexander  Hamilton     "      ' 
Pnrlmment  unrelenting.     Instrue.ions  to  Gage  to  act  offensively  . 
Chatham  interposes  with  a  plan  for  reconcilement 
It  IS  scouted  at  in  the  house  of  lords      ...**' 


PAQB 
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84 
8.5 
8(i 
87 
88 
88 
8b 


on 

91 

l»I 

92 

O'.i 

i)t 

f»5 

9(( 

DO 

!I7 

!)8 

!»9 

100 

101 

102 

103 

lot 

105 


,  106 
107 
108 
109 
109 
110 
110 
114 
115 
116 


y 


PA(JR 

8;i 

84 
85 
80 
87 
88 
88 
Si; 


vH 

PAOR 
.    110 

.  117 

,  118 
,  119 
.  120 


CONTENTS. 

Chiitham  extols  Franklin  iind  inviigliH  against  the  mlnistcra 

Tlio  hoiiKC  of  coiMinoiis  ilueiiiiu  MuHsticiiii!<ott.s  in  reltollioti 

IiitiMvicw  with  Fraiikliii.     Rcncwud  dcbiitu  in  tiio  lionsu  of  eomiiionM 

Violent  (U'lfiiti;  in  tli'.-  huusi'  of  lords 

ruilianieut  promise  on  their  lives  and  honor  to  snppress  tho  rebellion 

CIIAPTEM  Vlir. 

THE   BI'IIUT   OF    NEW    ENOLASD. 

Febrnary-Murch  1775. 

Massaclnisctts  appoints  its  coiiindttcc  of  safety      .... 

Itrt  Miciirtures  for  defi'uco 12'J 

Leonard  reeoniinends  submission  ......,,.  123 

The  reply  of  John  Adams 124 

New  Knf^land  to  be  exeludcd  from  tlic  fisheries.  Concessions  to  tho  French  ,  120 
Lord  North  consults  Franklin  on  seiulin>^  commissioners  to  America  .  .127 
His  plan  hateful  to  tlio  house  of  commons.  Appointment  of  Howe  as  general  128 
Of  Lord  Howe  as  admiral  and  commissioner;  of  Clinton  and  Burgoyno 

Holland  rudely  menaced 

Opinions  on  Lord  North's  proposal.     Spirit  of  the  Dutch  Americana 
Of  western  Vir^'inia.     Of  South  Carolina.     Of  IJoston  .... 

Expedition  to  Salem.     Conlidencc  of  the  king       ..... 

Oration  of  Warren  on  the  fifth  of  March        ...... 

Irritation  of  the  army  in  Boston 


121 


120 
120 
180 
181 
1C2 
133 
184 


^ 


'hem  cowards 
•luud  IJurko 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE   KIXO   AWAITS    XEWH    OF   SUCCESS. 

Marcli-Miiy  1775. 

Character  of  Samuel  Johnson 

Wesley  for  the  court      ....  ... 

Camden  sijcaks  for  the  Americans.     Sa. 

Franklin's  interview  with  the  French  m'   .  . 

He  sails  for  America.     His  frank  sinec. 

Edmund  Burke  vainly  proposes  his  plan  ■  .         . 

Vermont        .  .... 

Delaware.     Conservative  character  of  Virginia 

lis  second  convention.     Henry  proposes  measures  Oi  defence 

His  plan,  after  debate,  is  adopted 

Dunmore  carries  off  gunpowder  from  tlu  magazine  of  the  colony  . 
The  people  threaten  to  rise ;  Dunmore  to  free  and  arm  the  slaves . 

Moderating  advice  prc^'ails  in  Virginia 

Vigorous  measures  in  New  York 

Massachusetts  sootlies  the  Indians  and  prepares  for  war 

The  city  of  London  intercedes  for  America.     Confidence  of  Hutchinson 

The  king  sure  of  New  York 

Fresh  orders  to  Ga^e  to  act  on  tho  oii'ensive.     Dalrymple's  pamphlet 

How  far  Lord  North  was  false.     The  king  confident.     Europe  on  the  watch  . 


p,; 

1 

} 

.> 

■t 

ISS 
130 
137 
138 
180 
140 
142 
113 
144 
115 
140 
146 
147 
147 
148 
149 
150 
150 
151 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


rilAPTKR   X. 

TO   LEXWOTON   AND   CONCOHD,  AM,   BACK  TO   BOSTON. 

April  10,  177P. 

CdRo  dciKlM  i,ri  cxpoditlon  to  f'oncord 

Hovi.rt.'H  ii,l...     Til..   ,..«■.  ivad,,..  C.nfonl  n„",|  A.ton 

I  he  militia  imd  ulun-.-inen  of  Lexington  turn  out . 

The  coiiHiot  lit  Lexington 

Tlie  viiiiif;!'  iniir'vra       ... 

l'ro,,i,ecy  of  Sanniel  Ad.ims.     Ti.o'  people  of  Concord  rally    . 

1   0     ,..t.s h  ..„„.r  Concord.     Isaac  Davis  and  tbu  men  of  Icton 

J  He  Uriti.-,!.  t)cgin  the  destruction  of  stores 

The  iH'siiniing  oi  the  revolution    .        .        .         '        ' 

The  first  martyrs  at  Concord.     T\v,  Ilri'tish  retreat        [ 

The  Amcrimns  give  them  cluiso  through  Lincoln   . 

The  liritish  are  re-enfor^cd  at  Lexington 

Their  further  retr.at  and  pursui*  through  Cainbridgo    ." 

Tlic  Uritish  reach  Charlestown      .... 

The  siege  of  llosi    ■,     Import  of  the  nineteenth  of  April  1775 


PAOB 

.  ina 

.   1B3 
.   IB  I 

.  ir.fs 
.  ir,7 

.    158 

,  !(!(! 
.  101 
.   Ifl'J 

.  i(i;j 
.  Kit 
.  105 
.  100 


CnAPTEP.  XI. 


EFFECTS   OF   THE   DAT    OF   LEXlX.iTON   A.VD   CONCOKD. 

KIHI.VO. 


THE   OENERAL 


April-Juno  177D. 

The  alarm  spreads  over  the  continent    . 

The  peoi.lo  of  Massaelmsctts  rusli  t„  the  camp 

Men  of  New  Hampshire.    John  Stark 

Tiic  men  of  Connecticut.     Israel  Putnam 

Movements  in  Rhode  I. land.     Character  of  tl.c  army 

The  Uritish  officers  put  to  shame.     How  Percy  forgot  himsc 

n  rongs  of  the  people  of  Boston 

The  voice  of  Connecticut       ....*'* 

Want  of  .nilitary  stores.    Proposed  expedition  against  Quebec 

Want  of  money.     Massachusetts  needs  a  government  of  its  own 

formation  of  an  American  ar-iy 

Character  of  Greene  of  Rhode  Island     .        .'        *        * 

A  new  committee  in  New  York.     An  association  ." 

Address  from  New  York  to  London 

Journey  of  the  delegates  from  Massachusett.s'and  Connecticui 

Spirit  of  New  Jersey.     Of  Pennsylvania 

Of  Maryland.     The  rising  in  Virginia    .         .         '        ' 

Triumph  of  Ilenr;-.     Proceedings  in  South  Carolina 

In  Georgia     .... 

The  men  of  Vermont  cross  Lake  Champlain  .        .'        ', 

Ticonderoga  taken  by  s  ;  .)rise 

The  British  dag  is  struck  to  mariners  of  Maine     .' 


.  107 
.  108 
.  109 
.  170 
.  171 
.  172 
.  172 
.  172 
.  173 
.  174 
.  174 
.  175 
.  173 
.  177 
.  177 
,  178 
,  179 
180 
181 
182 
183 
184 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE   iVMEIilCAV  nEVOI.rTIO.V   EMA.VATlia   FROM  Tn-J   PEOPIE 

M.iy-July  1775. 

flow  the  news  was  icceivinl  in  fjondoti 

Tlio  wonU  of  John  Wcsioy 

Adilr.'ss  of  till-  city  of  r.oiidon  to  tlx!  kinpf.     Meeting  of  the  cabinet 

Tlie  Itiiig  rc'licH  on  lii.s  allies,  tlie  Six  Nations 

Tiio  JfinRN  brotliiT  an<l  Lu  Favetto  at  Metz    .... 

Tlio  opinion  of  Paris.     Of  Voigonnes 

Mc'L'tinj,'  of  tiic  .tecond  coiilinentul  ooiigrosa    ... 
Diflltiilty  of  Kottiaj,'  tlie  Hiiiiport  of  un  unformed  nation  . 
■"i.-tt  dopiity  from  (Jeoigia.     Congress  instructs  New  York    . 
Jay  proposes  a  second  jietition  to  the  king    .... 
Tlio  affair  on  Urapo  Island  and  the  skiiniisli  near  East  IJostou 
Ticonueroirit  and  Crown  Point  garrisoned.     Kent'ieky  scttlod 

Career  of  Daniel  ISoono 

Spirit  of  the  county  of  Mecklenburg 

They  deelii      nidopcndencu  and  establish  a  governi-ient 
They  publish  their  resolves.    Conlideuce  of  Uovemor  Martlr' 


.    iH5 

.  187 
.  188 
.  188 
.  18U 
.  189 
.  190 
.  161 
.  192 
.  102 
.  193 
.  194 
.  195 
.  190 
.  197 
.  198 


colonies 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MASSAOnrsETTd   ASKS    FOB   GEORGE   WASIIINOTON   AS   CO.MMANDER-IN-^ 

May-Juno  17,  1775. 

Opinions  of  Waaliington  and  Franklin 

Dickinson  advocates  a  seconu  ,.etition  to  the  king 

Ilaneock  chosen  president  of  congress 

Duane's  proposal  for  a  negotiation  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Second  address  to  the  Canadians.     Lord  North's  ofTcr 
Dunmore  convenes  the  Virginia  legislature.     Jefferson's  opinion 
Last  use  of  the  king's  veto  power.     Flight  of  the  governor 
Answer  of  the  burgesses  to  Lord  North's  proposition     .        '. 
The  answer  approved  by  Shelburne  and  Vergennes 
The  American  continental  army     .... 
Washington  chosen  general.     His  character  .... 
Knowing  the  difTiculties  before  him,  he  accepts     . 
The  pledges  of  congress.    Effect  of  his  appointment     .        '. 


CHIEF. 


.  199 
.  199 
.  200 
.  200 
.  200 
.  201 
.  202 
.  202 
.  203 
.  204 
.  206 
.  211 
.  212 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

BUNKER   niLL. 

June  10-17,  1775. 


The  American  array  round  Boston 
Gage  designs  to  occupy  Charlcstown 
Vrescott  fortifies  Breed's  Hill 


.  213 
.  214 

.  2i5 


CONTENTS, 


Surprise  of  the  British 

Und  ng  of  Lnt.si.  troo,,s.     Slate  of  IVscutt'.  defences 
Ward  avoids  a  g-Mierul  action  "^tenets       . 

MefofV'""r-     '"^"^  ^'--'-.^-     Josepn'war'ren   :         ' 

Putnam  s  oniers.     Number  of  Hope's  forces  '         " 

Number  of  tl.c  Americans  in  the  cn-a-emc  t      F,".„      '        ' 
Charlestown  set  on  fire.     Howe's  fir:;!^;  "^'™" 

Conduct  of  Preseott.     The  British  attaci-      Ti,-,:    '        "•        ' 
The  British  near  the  rail-fence    eo        The  ^"''7   ' 

They  are  again  driven  h.ek  "  '''°"'  '''^'^^'^      " 

The  third  attack  on  the  redoubt     """'■■ 
Prescott,  in  want  of  powder,  ^ives" the  word  'to  ret'rc.t  '         ' 
Putnam  takes  possession  of  Prospect  Ilili      Z       T /,      ,'        " 
T).e  British  „,ake  no  pursuit.     T     i    "   '^    i^'T^'    -dquarters 
Beath  and  character  of  n'arren  "  Americans 

British  and  American  opinions  on  tlic  battle"        .'        '        '        " 


PAOE 

.  210 
.  217 
.  218 
.  219 

.  220 
.  221 
.  221 

.  222 
223 
.  22;j 
.  224 
.  225 
.  226 
.  227 
.  22S 
22!) 
.  22!) 
.   2y() 
.  231 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE    AKMY    liOrXD    HOSTUX. 

June  17-Aiigust  1775. 
Effec'  of  British  losses.    Election  of  American  major-^enerals 
Oates  choscm  adjutant-general  and  brigadier  /"^""-"^'^'^       " 

^Vashmgtonaud  TryoninXew  York  ^        ■        -        .        . 

New  York  plan  of  acconnn.,dation 

Congress  emits  bills  of  credit,  and  autlmrizcs" the  i'^va^'on  of'r,    ", 
Congress  sets  forth  the  causes  for  taking  up  a    ,  s  "' 

^econd  petition  of  congress  to  the  kinc.  '        " 

f.nltiTmgsofll,ci„l,„Mu„t,„fBoMo„         =        '        ■        •        ■ 
f.™',''."- """■=""«*«"">•,  and  of, Ik.  A,„:.rica„        '        '        ' 

How  to  redeem  the  paper  money  

Congress  refuses  to  open  the  American  ports]  and'adjo^rns  '.        [ 


.  2P>2 
.  234 
.  234 
.  235 
.  236 
.  286 
.  237 
.  237 
.  238 

.  239 

.  240 
.  240 
.  241 
.  242 
.  243 
.  243 
.  244 
.  2(4 
.  245 

246 

246 

246 


PAGE 

.  2u; 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AMERICA    AWAITS   THE    KIXg's   DECISION. 

July-October  1775. 

Duties  of  Wiishipgton.     Morgan  and  his  Virginia  riflemen    . 

jRifleracu  of  Marjiand  and  Pennsylvania 

Treatment  of  American  priaoners.     The  war  spreads  over  the  sea 

Wasliington's  dKficulties 

Acts  of  the  provincial  congress  of  New  Jersey.  Strife  in  Pennsylvania 
Firmness  of  Delaware;  of  Maryland.  Cliarlca  Carroll.  Samael  Chase 
The  convention  at  Annapolis,     Dunmore  in  Virginia      .... 

Acts  of  the  Virginia  convention  at  Richmond 

Self-will  of  the  governor  of  South  Carolina 

Order  of  Gage  to  employ  savages  at  any  expense 

Preparations  for  defending  Charleston  harbor 

Spirit  of  North  Carolina 

Acts  of  the  congress  of  North  Carolina  in  August  1776 
Organization  of  the  provincial  council  of  North  Carolina 
The  news  of  Bunker  Hill  battle  in  Europe.     Howe  supersedes  Gage      . 
The  army  for  independence ;  the  American  congress  undecided      . 

Negroes  allowed  to  serve  in  the  army 

A  committee  of  congress  visit  the  camp.     Gage  embarks  for  England   . 

Origin  of  the  American  navy 

Division  in  Philadelphia.    Congress  uncertain 


7^ 


PAOE 

.  247 

.  248 

.  249 

.  250 

.  251 

.  252 

.  253 

.  254 

,  256 

,  256 

,  257 

,  258 

259 

260 

260 

261 

261 

262 

263 

264 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

FINAL    ANSWEU   OF   THE    KING    TO    AMEEIOA. 

August-December  1775. 

Question  at  issue  between  America  and  Britain     .... 

Colonial  system  of  Townshend,  of  Grcnville 

Of  Pitt.     Theory  of  Rockingham.     The  principle  of  the  colonies  . 

Townshend.     A  preamble  and  a  tax 

The  king  and  the  East  India  company  defeated  by  Boston    . 

The  Massachusetts  charter.     The  king  threatens  blows . 

Piichard  Penn  and  the  second  petition  to  the  king .... 

The  king  proclaims  the  Americans  rebels 

Reception  of  the  proclamation  in  France  and  in  America 

Joseph  Ilawley  advises  an  annual  national  parliament  of  two  houses 

The  colonies  think  of  establishing  governments  of  their  own 

Opinions  of  .leflerson  and  George  III 

Character  of  the  empress  Catharine  II  of  Russia   . 

Character  of  her  first  minister 

She  is  asked  for  twenty  thousand  men  to  serve  in  America    . 
The  empress  recommends  concession,  and  refuses  troops 
Her  sarcastic  letter  to  the  kiu''      .... 


265 
266 
267 
267 
268 
269 
269 
270 
271 
272 
273 
274 
275 
276 
277 
278 
279 


zu 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PINAL   AX8WEB   OP    PARLIAMEXT   TO    AMERICA. 

October-December  1775 
What  Europe  thought  of  the  application  to  Russia 
Grafton's  interview  with  the  king.  '>*...• 

The  king's  speech  to  parliament."  Debatoc  in  th.  'n  '  '  ' 
Opinions  of  Shelburne,  the  univer.itv  of  )  ^  -?°"'  '  " 
Lord  G,.or-o  Germain  t.^.TT^  •"'''  ""^  Vergcnnes   . 

Weakness';; ^Zl:!;^   ^'^  ^"""'""  '^'^P^"^-"'-     "^  ^^--ter 

ine  Irish  house  of  commons  and  America 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANJfEXATION  OF   CANADA. 

August-December  1775 

Montgomery  captures  St.  John's  and  Montreal       '        " 
ili3  political  plans.     He  resolvnc  t^  „    a 

iheir  desperate  situation       .  -^ui-oec 

Order  given  to  assault  the  lower  town    '        "        "        * 

Montgomery  leads  his  men  '        "        '        " 

Montgomery  and  others  fall. '  JUs  pan'y  retreat     "        * 

Arno  d  ,s  wounded.     .Morgan's  ecnpanv  ca    y  a  b^ric.do 

The  Americans  within  the  town  surrender.     J.^r^L.gome,, 

CHAPTER  XX. 

ADTANCIXO    TOVVARD    INDEPENDENCE. 

^r      ,  ^^^^  ^"'it'^s  «f  1775-Marcli  1776 

Aew  Jersey  refuses  to  address  the  kin.  scparatelv 
Movements  in  New  York  citv     n;.     ".  '^'''Y''**''-^        •        • 
The  people  demand  a  d  ..^  i-   ^'?'™'"S  °^  'he  Highlanders       . 

Tbomas  Paine"  "'elm:  rs""    '"""f'-^--         •        •        . 
tommon  .Sense     urges  the  declaration     . 


PAEO 

.  280 
.  281 

.  282 
.  283 
.  281 
.  286 
.  287 
.  287 
.  288 
.  289 
.  290 


.  291 
.  292 
.  293 
.  294 
.  295 
.  296 
.  297 
.  298 
.  299 
.  301 
.  302 
,  303 
.  304 
305 
306 
307 
308 


310 
311 
312 
S13 


CONTENTS. 


••• 


PAEO 

.  280 
.  281 

.  282 
.  283 
.  284 
.  286 
.  287 
.  287 
.  288 
.  289 
.  290 


And  the  formation  of  a  continental  government    .        .        ,        . 
Opinions  of  Wasliington,  Greene,  and  Jolin  Adams.    Ilcsitaney  of 
Efforts  of  Samuel  Adams,  Wythe,  Franklin,  and  Hooper 
Dunmore  begins  the  war  in  Virginia.     His  instructions 
He  offers  freedom  to  indented  servants  and  negro  slaves 
Ilepulse  of  tlic  BritLsli  from  the  Elizabeth  river     . 

Dunmore  burns  the  city  of  Norfolk 

The  Virginia  convention  demands  free  trade 

Siate  of  the  army  round  Boston.     Black  men  among  them 

Congress  impatient  for  an  attack  on  Boston  .... 

Washington's  reproof  of  congress 

The  British  army  in  Boston  have  no  thought  of  danger 
Washington  prepares  to  drive  them  from  Boston  . 
Dorchester  Heights  fortified  in  one  night       .... 
Howe  embarks  his  anny.     Joseph  Brant  in  England      . 
What  England  was  expecting  when  the  Americans  moved  into  Bo 

Washington's  reception  in  Boston 

Rhode  Island  renounces  allegiance  to  the  king 

CHAPTER  XXI. 


ACTS   OF   INDEPENDENCE. 

February-April  17T6. 

Character  of  John  Adams 

America  claims  p.  right  to  contract  alliances  . 
Pennsylvania  still  profosres  allegiance  to  the  king 
Enlistments  for  the  army.     Choice  of  general  officers    . 
Congress  charge  the  king  himself  with  their  grievances . 
Congress  totally  forbid  the  importation  of  slaves  . 
American  ports  thrown  open  to  the  commerce  of  the  world 
Pennsylvania  adheres  to  the  proprietary  government     . 

Heroism  of  James  Mugford 

Instructions  to  the  British  commissioners  for  America  . 

Pamphlet  of  Richard  Price  on  "  Liberty  "... 

The  exercise  of  authority  under  the  crown  to  be  suppressed 

TIio  congress  order  the  colonies  to  make  governments  of  their  own 

American  legislatures  to  consist  of  two  branches  . 

A  republic  an  Elysium  coaiparcd  with  monarchy  or  aristocracy 


PASS 

.  314 
Maryland  315 
,  316 
.  317 
.  318 
.  319 
.  320 
.  321 
.  322 
.  323 
.  324 
.  825 
.  326 
.  327 
.  328 
.  329 
.  330 
.  331 


ton 


.  332 
.  335 
.  336 
.  336 
.  337 
.  338 
.  339 
.  330 
.  340 
.  341 
.  342 
.  343 
.  344 
.  345 
.  346 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

BEITAIN   SEEKS   FOREIGN   AID. 

1775-1770. 
The  king  asks  a  brigade  of  Holland       .... 
Opposed  by  the  states  of  Ovcryssel  and  fails 
Britain  desires  to  recruit  in  Germany  in  spite  of  the  law 
Saxony  refuses  subsidiary  troops 


.  347 
.  348 
.  349 
.  349 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


The  negotiation  with  Brunswicl^ 

With  the  landgrave  of  Ilosse  "        "         "        ' 

Embarkation  of  the  troops  corruptly  deiavod'         '        ' 

Judgment  on  the  German  princes  .'.'■" 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

AMEIilOA   SEEKS   FOREIGN   AID. 

1775-1776. 
The  presentiments  of  Vergcnnes 

lurgot'a  reply        .        _  • 

France  desires  representative  government      '  ' 
Retirement  of  Maleslicrbes 

Of  Turgot.     Sartine  favors  war  with  En'^and  Prin^n.  > 

France  and  Spain  send  a!,]  tn  a        •        '■''^"'^-  ^"mnlil 

i  ne  age  ot  skepticisiii  .         .  •'•••. 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

-K   BR.IS„   ..eOVKK   0A.AOA.      .on.I   CA.OU.A   .KC.A.ES 

January-July  1776 

The  British  plan  for  the  recovery  of  Canada. 

The  Americans  in  Cai.ada  reinforced 

Measures  of  congress  for  the  reduction  ^f  Quebec  " 

The  retreat  to  Crown  Point 

SeveT^BriU  h"  "'"'°"  °^  '""  ^""^"''™  -'--  ' 
beven  British  regiments  ordered  to  the  Carolinas 

Charles  Lee  at  New  York  ' 

He  is  invested  with  the  southern  command    ."        " 
A  Highland  regiment  formed  in  North  Carolina      ' 
Their  march  toward  Wilmington 
Their  courage  and  fidelity  to  the  king    *         '        " 
Defeat  of  the  Highlanders  by  the  Americans"        " 


PAOB 

.  iii,0 
.  3fi2 
365 
866 
367 
368 


.  369 

.  SCO 
.  361 
.  362 
.  3()2 
.  303 
.  304 
.  366 
.  309 
.  369 
370 
371 
372 
373 


FOR 


.  374 
.  375 
.  376 

.  377 
.  878 
.  879 

.  880 
.  381 
.  382 
.  383 

.  884 

.  386 

.  386 

,  SS7 

.  3S8 

.  389 


^ 


PAOB 
.    Si>0 

.  3fi2 
355 
S50 
367 
358 


CONTENTS. 

Great  rising  in  North  Carolina       .... 
Georgia  ready  for  iudcpcndenco  and  self-government    . 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

UOW   SOUTH   CAROLINA   ADVANCED   TO   INDEPENDENCE. 

February-July  1770. 

The  convention  of  South  Carolina 

South  Carolina  establishes  its  own  constitution 

John  Rutledgo  is  chosen  and  inaugurated  president.     His  address 

Speech  of  the  chief  justice  on  opening  the  court     ... 

The  British  fleet  enter  Cape  Fear  river 

Burning  of  Hooper's  house.     First  expedition  of  Cornwallis 
Rutledgc  in  Charleston  prepares  to  meet  the  British 

Arrival  and  opinions  of  General  Lee 

lie  proposes  the  evacuation  of  Sullivan's  Island     . 

The  British  army  lands  on  Long  Island  .... 

Preparations  of  each  side  for  battle 

Description  of  Fort  Moultrie 

The  British  begin  the  attack 

The  advance  party  of  the  Americans  receive  no  damage 

British  vessels  of  war  ground.     Heroism  of  Jasper  and  Macdaniel 

Effect  of  the  American  fire  on  the  British  flag-ship 

Retreat  of  the  British 

Losses  of  the  British 

Honors  to  the  defenders  of  Fort  Sloultrie      .... 
News  of  the  victory  are  sped  to  the  North     .... 


XV 


<<AOB 

.  390 
.  391 


.  393 

.  391 

,  595 

.  896 

,  397 

,  398 

398 

399 

400 

401 

402 

403 

404 

405 

406 

407 

408 

409 

410 

411 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

VIRGINIA   PROCLAIMS   THE    RIGHTS   OF   MAN   AND    PROPOSES    INDEPEN 

May-June  1776. 
The  constituent  convention  of  Virginia 
The  people  of  Virginia  unanimous         .... 
Edmund  Pendleton  chosen  president  of  the  convention  . 
They  resolve  on  independence  and  a  confederation 
George  Mason  drafts  the  declaration  of  rights.     Madison': 
The  rights  of  man  as  dceh'rcd  by  Vii^inia    . 
The  independent  policy  of  Maryland      .... 
Tlie  proprietary  government  in  Pennsylvania  overthrown 

The  position  of  Dickinson 

The  irresolution  of  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania 
Richard  Henry  Lee  offi.rs  the  resolution  for  Independence 

He  is  supported  by  John  Adams 

The  desire  of  the  court  of  Vienna 

Committees  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  independence    . 
To  digest  the  foim  of  a  confederation  . 


DENCE. 


• 

.  412 

.     . 

.  413 

. 

.  414 

. 

.  415 

imendment 

.  416 

. 

.  417 

■ 

.  419 

. 

.  420 

. 

.  421 

.   . 

.  422 

• 

.  423 

.   ■ 

.  424 

. 

.  424 

• 

.  425 

•   .   . 

.  425 

XVI 


COJ^TENTS. 


To  treat  with  foreign  powers 

The  law  of  treason  and  state  dtiEcnship 


PAOB 

.  425 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


.  426 


June-July  1770 
American  independence  the  ehoice  of  the  whole  n„    , 
Virginia  becomes  a  rcpul.lie  "  ^''°^'^°  •        • 

Connecticut.  Delaware.  New  Ila'.npsij,,  "  '  *  "  ' 
Massachusetts.  The  wise  conduct  of  xW  v '.•  "  "  '  • 
The  British  foment  a  deadly  consnil  v  '"'"''"'  "'  unanimity 

^  Jer.yfra.es  us  conSr:^^;^::^^'''"^-.        " 

-e  constituent  eon.nti::rr3:r^:^.-        "        ' 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

From  the  First  to  the  Fourth  of  July  1776 
i  he  members  of  congress  of  that  day 
i  he  voices  of  tlie  colonies  •'••.. 

Speech  of  John  Adams  for  independence       "        *        ' 
Reply  of  Dickinson  *        *        • 

Character  of  Thomas  Jefferson  "        *        '         ' 

He  drafts  the  declaration  of  indenendence     '        '        " 
Criticisms  on  his  paper .  '  '        '         " 

Principles  of  the  declaration"        *        "        "        '        " 

Padiamrn!"?  '*'"'"  *°  ^"^^™  '""^  -'°--  absolutely  " 
Parliament  has  enacted  unconstitutional  laws  ^  ' 

The  king  has  waged  war  against  the  colonies  '        ' 

Why  America  became  a  republic   .  '         "         ' 

ivi   ^^^Z  °^  """'^^'  °"  the  fourth 

Why  the  fourth  of  July  is  the  great  anniversary    .'        ." 


.  420 

,  427 

428 

429 

430 

4S1 

432 

433 

434 


.  4S6 
.  486 

.  437 
.  438 
.  440 
.  441 
.  441 
.  442 
.  414 
.  445 
.  44G 
.  447 
•  448 
.  44!) 
.  449 
.  450 
.  460 
.  451 
.  451 
.  452 
.  452 
.  462 


PAOB 

.  425 


I 


THE 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


m  FIVE  Erociis. 


EPOCH  THIKD. 


AMERICA  TAKES  UP  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE  AND 
ARRIVES  AT  IXDEPEXDENCE. 

From  1774  to  177G. 


VOL.    IV. 1 


AMERICA  TAKES  UP  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE 
AXl)  ARRIVES  AT  INDEPENDENCE. 


i 


CHAPTER  I. 

AMEraCA   SUSTAINS   THE   TOWN   OF   BOSTON. 

May  1774. 

The  hour  of  tlie  American  revolution  was  come.     The 
people  of  the  contment  obeyed  one  general  impulse,  as  the 
earth  m  spr.ng  listens  to  the  connuand  of  nature  and  without 
tlie  appearance  of  effort  bursts  into  life.     The  moven^ent  was 
quickened,  even  when  it  was  most  resisted ;  and  its  fiercest 
adversaries  worked  with  the  most  effect  for  its  fulfilment 
Standing  m  manifold  relations  with  the  governments,  the  cult^ 
lire,  and  the  experience  of  the  past,  the  Americans  seized  as 
their  peculiar  inheritance  the  traditions  of  liberty.     Beyond 
any  other  nation,  they  had  made  trial  of  the  possible  foms  of 
popular  representation,  and  respected  individual  conscience  and 
thought.     The  resources  of  the  country  in  agriculture  and 
commerce,  forests  and  fisheries,  mines  and  materials  for  manu 
factures,  were  so  diversified  and  complete  that  their  develop- 
ment could  neither  be  guided  nor  circumscribed  by  a  govZ  ' 
n  ent  beyond  the  ocean.     The  numbers,  purity,  Jiu.o^inZ- 
ry,  and  d.mng  of  its  inhabitants  proclaimed  the  existence  of 
ihr^l'"     "  '''"'"''  '""'^^ '  **^"^  '^'  ^^'  institutions  of 
They  refused  to  acknowledge  even  to  themselves  the  hope 

latZtV       "f  ^fr  *'""'  '^"^^  ^^''  '^  *'-•"•  P"lJtical  asp' 
ations  they  deduced  from  universal  principles  a  KM  of  ri-di 

a.  old  as  creation  and  as  wide  as  humanity.     The  idea  of  free- 


4 


AMERICA  ARMS   Foij   SKF.F  [)i.:pf.^x(.f; 


I^I'.  tll.;  (ii.T. 

<l-;m  I'.'V'l  .'.lunys  r(.v(.:,le,l  itsdf  at  Lust  to  a  iW  ul'  tUv  ^yU, 
u-l.os.  i,n,j.lK.|i-  i.Hfi.K.ts  wcv  qni,.|<..M'  ,1  l,y  lov.  of  tl.c.ir  kin.l 
ami  ,fs  p-ovvtl,  c-an  I.o  traco.l  in  tlw  ton.Inu.v  nf  t',.  a-r.  I,,' 
Amem-a,  ir  ....  rh.  I„vafl.  of  life  ,o  the  people.  I'.m,,:  ,i.,, 
time  ,t  io„n.l  a  rc-.o,.  a;>-l  a  niee  wliero  it  umhl  I.o  nr<,fcw.c<(l 
w.tli  I.e_.anK.st„es,s  of  an  i-uhvellin^^  convicfion,  „,' !  I.„',|,.. 
^n.  ..I  wlh  (ho  c.ntln,.u.,n  that  ha,.l  nuu-ke.l  no  wars  I.nt  thoso 
lo.  ivhuaon.  A\  hen  all  Kurope  slun.he.v.l  over  .p,esti<,n.s  of 
hbo..^   .  ban,    .f  exile.   Koopin^  M-ateh  l,v  ni^hM.eanl  the 

gl.u     ..In^^rswh.eh  p, use.!  the  politieal  reoene.ali.M.  of  fho 

world.     A  revolnfion,  nneNpected  in  the  nionu-nt  of  it.  eoni- 
ing,  but  prepare,!  I.v  oIoHous  forerunners,  ^n.v  naturally  an.l 
neeessunlyout  ot  the  series  of  p.st  events  ].v  the  fonnative 
pr.ne,ple  of  a  hvu.,-  belief.     And  why  should  n,an  or.ani.e 
re.s.si.aneo  to  the  .n-and  desio,,  „f  Providenee^     Why  Thou M 
not  the  eonsent  of  the  ancestral  land  and  the  ^n-atuhitions  of 
every  otier  eal   the  youn;,  nation  to  its  place  an.onp.  the  ]>onv- 
crs  of  the  earth?     LrKain  was  the  nii.^dity  nu.ther  who  l.red 
Dien  eapal.Ie  of  layhi-  the  foun.lation  of  so  nohle  an  empire 
and   she  alone  could  have   trained   them   u),.     She   had   ex- 
celled all  the  w..rld  as  the  foun<ler  of  colonies.     The  condition 
winch  ejititled  tlieni  to  inde].endenee  Avas  now  f.illiiled     ^J'heir 
vi-orous  vitality  refused  conformity  to  forei-n  laws  and  e- 
tenial  rule.     They  could  take  no  other  way  to  perfection  than 
by  the  unconstrained  development  of  that  which  was  within 
t hem.     Ihey  were  not  only  able  to  govern  themselves,  they 
alone  were  able  to  do  so;  subordination  visibly  repressed  their 
energies      (^)uly  by  self-directi,>n  could  thvy  at'all  times  employ 
then-  collective  and  individual  faculties  in  the  fulkvt  extent  of 
tlieir  ever-increasing  intelligence.     Could  not  the  illustrious 
nation,  ^vhich  had  gained  no  .listinction  in  war,  in  literature  or 
m  science,  com])arable  to  that  of  having  wisely  founded  .listant 
sett  ements  on  a  .yst.m  of  liberty,  M-illingly  perfect  its  beneli- 
cent  worlc  now  when  no  more  was  recpiired  than  the  acknowl- 
edgment that  its  olfspring  was  come  of  age?     AVhy  must  the 
ripening  of  lineal  virtue  be  struck  at,  as  rebellion  in  the  lawful 
sons.^    >M.yis  their  miwavering  attachment  to  the  essential 
pnnciple  of  their  existence  to  be  persecutcl  as  treason,  rather 
than  vunyed  with  delight  as  the  croM'ning  o'lory  of  the  country 


nil.     \m:nw.\  sl'staixs  the  town  of  ijoston.         5 

iVoiii  which  tlifv  ^imuv^i  If  the  Institutions  of  nrltaiii  wero 
hu  (U-cj.Iy  lixi-d  ill  its  ii,si<;e.s  and  (.pinions  that  their  doviations 
ir..:i.  jiistico  coukl  not  u.s  yt-t  l.o  roctilird  ;  if  the  old  fontimnt 
w'AA  inwhyr  nndc-r  systems  of  anthority  not  lit  to  k-  borne,  and 
not  ripu  for  ainenchncnt,  why  slioidd  not  a  peoi-li-  ho  la-iirt- 
ened  to  huild  a  comnionweahh  in  the  svihlernoss,  where  alono 
it  was  olfered  a  honu'^ 

So  reasoned  a  few  in  Ilritain,  wlio  wei-e  jrercd  at  "as  vision- 
nry  enthnshists."     Parliament  had  asserte.l  an  ahsohitu  lordshij) 
over  tlio  eoh.7iies  in  id!  eases  whatsoever,  and,  fretting  itself 
into  a  frenzy  at  the  denial  of  its  unlimited  dominion,  was  dc- 
Ktroyin-  it.  recr,trnise.d  anthority  I.y  its  ea-erness  iov  more, 
a  he  majonty  of  the  ministers,  inHndin-  the  nmst  active  and 
resolute,  were  bent  on  tlie  immediate  emi>loyinent  of  force. 
Lord  Nortli,  recoiling  from  civil  war,  exercised  no  control 
over  his  eollea-ues,  leaving  the  government  to  be  conducted 
by  tlie  .several  departments.     As  a  consequence,  the  king  bo- 
came  the  only  point  of  administrativo  niuou.     In  liim  an  ap- 
proving   conK-ience  had  no  misgiving  as  to  In's  duty.     Ili.s 
heart  knew  no  relenting;  his  Avill  never  wavered.      Though 
America  were  to  be  drenched  in  blood  and  its  towns  reduced 
to  ashes,  though  its  peoi)le  were  to  be  driven  to  strugole  for 
total  iiidependence,  though  ho  himself  should  find  it^'necos- 
sary  to  bid  high  for  hosts  of  mercenaries  from  the  Scheldt  to 
Moscow,  and  in  (piest  of  savage  allies  go  tapping  at  every 
wigwam  from  Lake  Huron  to  the  (Julf  of  Mexico,  he  was  re- 
solved to  coerce  the  thirteen  colonies  into  submission. 

On  the  tenth  of  IVIay  1774,  which  was  the  day  of  the  acces- 
sion of  Louis  XVJ.,  the  act  cloung  the  port  of  'boston,  trans- 
ferring the  board  of  customs  to  Marl)lehead,  and  the  seat  of 
government  to  Salem,  reached  the  devoted  town.     The  kin- 
was  confident  that  the  slow  torture  which  was  to  be  api.lied  to 
Its  mhabitant^  would  consti-ain  them  to  crv  out  for  mercy  u'ld 
promise  unconditional  obedience.     Success"  in  resistance  could 
come  only  from  an  Amoriean  union,  wliich  was  not  to  he  hoped 
tor,  unless  Boston  should  olfer  herself  as  a  willin-  sacrifice 
The  mechanics  and  merchants  and  laborers,  altogether  scarcely 
so  many  as  thirty-liN-e  hundred  able-bodied  men,  knew  that 
tiiey  were  acting  not  for  a  province  of  America,  but  for  free- 


|..f; 


e  AJIKIMCA  AIIMS  FOR  SEI,PW)EFE.VCK.       o-.  ,„..,.„. ,. 

Ami,  iMf  Tk.y  were  iMs,,iR.,l  l.ytho  tlion(;l,t  llmf  tl„.  I'rovi 
,t  Kl  l;;  7'™  ""'  "■"'■'"  *™"<l"l  of  'l-m  heroi  :  : 
tHu  lell.iw-feel.ri:;  <>l  llie  ciitiricrit. 

A»s„„„  ,„  ,|,„  „rt  ,,,,,  ,„,.i^.,.,|^  „,^  ,,,,^       (..,„„„it,o<.  of 

gl,l,om«  tu«-,«  ,„  a  eo„fe,.,K.e  "„„  ,|,„  ,  ,,„„1     „  ^' 
l-nl. he  air.,,.."    ()„  ,!,„  ,„,,,„•„,,  „(  jret,,.lf  J),nvle,   ,l„ 

N- <or  o,  ,1,0  ,,sse,,,l,l,.  „f  J!|„„|„  I.|,.„;,,  ea,„o  hefo,.  ,'l, 

e     r  ,n  M    T''!"  """■'  '""•  '■"  """"■'"■  "'  »  '"■'■■'"  "•■<="l'"-  fct- 
em,  o  ,   '       ""  VT,"''"'-'''  ''^'  '"^■'"■''"•''  ""  "'"  "'"■too"  «»v- 

I  '   1  .  '         ■-'^^"W'"".  ."ir,«l  tl,u,n  ill  Fai,einl  Hall  tl,n 
emd  e  ot  A,„o,.i,,„,  lil,.,,,,  „!,„■„  for  ton  year.  ,l,e    -e  ,  o,,  «? 

.0, 0  r;^;::  :;•■'"  ■" -■'  r-  --"">»«  of  ti,e,„ :: : 

tcnul  to  feou  ,l,e,r  „«•„  eatfle,  to  fuld  ti.eil-  own  slieei,  to 
pmle  tl.o,,  o,v„  ,,lo„gl,«;  all  were  t,.ai„«l  to  publie  life  h  'tl L 
;.tt le  Oe„,„,.,-aeies  of  their  tow,,.;  .o,„e  of  tl,o,„  «.«;,  h    s 

;:::;;,o':t:  *  .e '  i^e-rerir^vr-''-  •  T-^r-  '- 
e„n«„  of  .,„  ,!,,.  '^:^^:^^::t'^:-^:^ 

111  tl,t  (1,1,1.  l,o,„-,  l,gl,t  :„.„iio  „,,„„  ti,e,„  fr„„,  ti,  i 

and  courage.    Plaei„s  Sa„.„cl  Ada,„s  at  their  head  a        , ,  ' 

™  ,,iL?'    "''^"'''  "■;''  """"•  "'»y  »»--<»  "■'anin,o„s; 

on  tl,o  inj„st,co  and  cnielt.v  of  tl,o  act,  hy  wl.ici,  mrli-,,,,,.,,, 

rT*;:  :""r'2   '■-■'f '"».;'. -O  -'..-ay  a.  welHoZ 


1774.       AMERIOA  SUSTAINS  THE  TOWN  OF  P.OSTON.  7 

part  to  join  "their  snilrrin-if  brethren  in  every  measuro  of 
relief." 

Tlic  iMcetinp;  knew  tliat  a  declaration  of  independence  would 
have  iilieriiiti'd  their  sister  coh^nieH,  nor  hrd  they  an  yet  found 
out  that  inih^pendenco  was  the  de.siro  of  tlieir  own  hearts.     To 
Huggcst  nothing  till  a  congrcs,^  could  be  convened  would  have 
Beenied^  to  them  like  al)andoning  the  town  to  bleed  away  its 
life.     The  king  had  expected  to  starve  its  people  into  submis- 
sion ;  in  their  circular  let.er  to  the  committees  of  the  other 
colonies  they  proposed,  as  a  counter  action,  a  general  cessation 
of  trade  with  Britain.    «  Now,"  they  added,  "  is  the  time  when 
all  should  be  united  in  opposition  to  tiiis  violation  of  the  liber- 
ties of  all.    The  single  question  is,  n-hether  you  consider  Bos- 
ton  as  suffering  in  the  common  cause,  and  sensibly  feel  and 
resent  the  injury  and  affront  olTered  to  her?    Wo  cannot  be- 
lieve otherwise;  assuring  you  ilwt,  not  in  the  least  intiinidated 
by  this  inhuman  treatment,  wo  are  still  detennined  to  main- 
tain to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities  the  rights  of  America." 

The  next  day,  while  Gage  was  sailing  into  the  hai-l)or,  Sam- 
xiel  Adams  presided  over  a  very  numei-ous  towm-meeti'ig,  at, 
which  many  were  present  who  had  hitherto  kept  aloof.     The 
thought  of  republican  Rome,  in  its  purest  age,  animated  their 
consultations.     The  port  act  was  read,  and  in  bold  debate  was 
pronounced  repugnant  to  law,  religion,  and  common  sense. 
At  the  same  time  those,  who  from  loss  of  employment  were  to 
be  the  first  to  encounter  want,  were  remembered  with  tender 
compassion,  and  measures  were  put  in  train  to  comfort  them 
Then  the  inhabitants,  by  the  hand  of  Samuel  Adams,  made 
their  appeal  "to  all  the  sister  colonies,  inviting  a  universal  sus- 
pension of  exports  and  imports,  promising  to  suffer  for  Amer- 
ica Anth  a  becoming  fortitude,  confessing  tiiat  singly  they 
might  find  their  trial  too  severe,  and  entreating  not  to  be  left 
to  straggle  alone,  when  the  very  being  of  every  colony,  con- 
sidered as  a  free  jieople,  depended  upon  the  event." 

^  On  the  seventeenth.  Gage,  who  l;ad  remained  four  d  ./s 
with  Hutchinson  at  Castle  William,  landed  at  Long  AVharf, 
amid  salutes  from  ships  and  batteries.  Received  by  the  coun- 
cil and  civil  officers,  he  M'as  escorted  by  the  Boston  c.  lets, 
whom  Hancock  commanded,  to  the   state-house,  where  the 


8 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EI',  ill. ;    en.  I. 

He  f,™  ,„.„„,  „, ,  p.:f.,;ii;;;;:'ti:  ™  ,i^„:l^^;'T■T 
I'm"    Yet  many  h    ,  '  "'"'  '■':"'"™''  "■'•"'  »  gone™! 

subscription  to  ])av  for  tho  to'^      /),.  ,,    °'.'^""  1'"*  forward  a 
Amor/verj  strong  a\.^d  t    .V  f^S^'teeut].,  JouatJiau 

hope  of  relief  throiurh  tl.n  inf, .        •        J  .     ^*'^^  lingered  a 

love  of  society  1„  gained  tl,o  ;    a  "i,,  ^  -T     '°"'l'-  -<■ 
and  escaped  persomU  en„>itic"  •   „        ?. ,        T'"  .""'"l"""'™* 
«l>i.-ed  „eitl,e,.  confidence  no.-  fe  r       jTT   '""""^'  '"^  '•"■ 
and  .0  „,.,!.  „f  „,„,  ,„  „nll  i!,  t^no^ZZ^'  "  '"T' 
-n  Ins  opinion.,,  flat  he  was  snre  to  v  cH  !      ?  .     "^  ""*'""'' 
concession  and  nicrciless  sevo'tv       ill'      '"""'"'  ™'*  "^ 
«'»"  -••I.  four  regiments  l,o  2ii  t  '^  .17',"?"  "'«  '''"^ 
beyond  Ins  .vanisition  were  hourly       „   ^i .        '    »"f  ''P" 
Z^Zr^'  of  the  ieading  pLoU^^rtolt:; 

^="J'^  <!:%!;!•  he,'nr:::t"::r^  ^^r  '"™^*  -'"--^'^  -^ 

of  their  anc\,t;rs  C  ,  f  r:  :,;•  :t 'i;'  "■■^' '"""  ''"^  '■™'' 
»■'  tj^-anny.  Taxing  then  w  lln,  4";"'  "T  '""'■"^  '" 
them  of  their  hirfLWHif  ■  tl,  "*'"  ""■^  '-"'^'""g 

a^  "a  junto  of  tt  s  ?  uV  t7tr'""'  ""=  '"■'"*''  ''"'•'-■'™^ 
resentative,  of  E,.,     , ,  "    ^'./'  "  "'■"l'"'  ™"-'-  "'"i  the  rej. 

'langer,  but  conflden  of  vi.t  -  S"""  '"  "T^^^'^'^'  '^"^^^ 
t.«etl.er,,s,,r„tl,ersforal;fe:ih!!:i;'-^''-^'  "'""'""^  *"  ^'-'' 

l-lace  narked  out  ■.,  tl.e^n     '  n  1'  ■"'"'"'•    ^'''°»>  ""■' 

"'—ting  and  afte; ,:; ,  i  i  s':s;r "d  '■"  t  ??  ''■" 

"'""""10.%  to  stop  tnde  not  wid,  B  l  ,.     ?  t'""'''"''  "'"""" 
tl'o  West  Indies.    If  in  Doston  a  f  v      i  ■''■  ,'"  "''"  ""^ 

''.-^-■o.'ti'4'.tLcethJ'S::':rt::;;ci,: 


1774.       AMEFilCA   SUSTAINS   THE   TOWN   OF  BOSTON.  9 

liacl  come  to  overawe  tliem.     Biit;  Samuel  Adum^,  wl,iIo  ]io 
coinpaivd  their  spirit  to  that  of  Sparta  or  R(,me,  inculcated 
" patience  as  the  characteristic  of  a  patriot;"  and  tlie  people 
having  sent  forth  their  cry  to  the  continent,  waited  self-pos- 
sessed for  voices  of  consolation. 

]S"ew  York  anticii)ated  the  praver  of  Uoston.     Its  people 
who  had  received  the  port  act  directly  from  England,  felt  the 
wrong  to  that  town  as  a  wound  to  themselves,  and  even  the 
lukewarm  kindled  with  resentment.     From  the  epoch  of  the 
stamp  act,  their  Sons  of  Liberty,  styled  by  the  royalists  "the 
1  resbj-tenan  junto,"  had  kept  np  a  Ci)mmittec  of  corre^^pond- 
ence.     let  Sears,  .Alacdougall,  and  Land),  still  its  principal 
members,  represented  the  meclianics  of  the  city  more  than  its 
merchants ;  and  they  never  enjoyed  tlie  confidence  of  the  great 
landed  proprietors,  Avho  by  the  tenure  of  estates  in  New  York 
iormed  a  recognised  aristocracy.      To  unite  tlie  province,  a 
more  comprehensive  conibinati<m  was  re.piired.     The  old  com- 
mittee, while  they  accepted  the  cpiestionable  policy  of  an  im- 
mediate suspension  of  commerce  with  Britain,  proposed  a  gen- 
eral congress  of  uepnties  from  all  the  colonies.     These  recom- 
mendations they  forwarded  through  Connecticut  to  Boston, 
with  entreaties  to  that  town  to  stand  firm;  and,  in  full  conli- 
de.ice  of  approval,  they  sent  them  to  Philadelphia,  and  through 
I'hiladelphia  to  every  colony  at  the  south.  '^ 

The  inception  of  the  continental  congress  of  1774  was  tho 
last  achievement  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  of  New  York      On 
the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  of  ^lay  they  convoked  the  inhabi- 
tants of  their  city.     A  sense  of  the  impending  change  tem- 
pered passicmate  rashness.     Some  who  v^-el•e  in  a  secret  under- 
standing with  officers  of  tho  crown  souglit  to  evade  all  decisive 
measures;  the  merchants  were  averse  to  headlong  engagements 
lor  suspending  trade;  the  gentry  feared  lest  the  men  who  on 
all  former  occasions  had  led  the  multitude  should  preserve  the 
eontro!  m  tlie  day  whicli  was  felt  to  be  near  at  hand,  when  an 
m.lependont  people  woukl  shape  the  permanent  institutions  of 
a  contment.     I  nder  a  conservative  influence,  the  motion  pre- 
vailed to  supercede  tho  ol<l  committee  of  correspondence  by  a 
new  one  of  fifty,  and  its  members  Avero     'ected  by  open  nomi- 
nation,    liic  choice  included  men  from  all  classes.     Xearly  a 


if 


JO 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  m. ;  on.  r. 

third  part  were  of  tl.ose  who  followed  the  British  standml  fn 
the  last;  others  were  lukewarm,  unsteady,  aTbltdtrV 
nearness  of  revolntmn  .  ^+i  •  ■^'  "^^  ^^  *he 

lihertv     Tl    ?      ?'  "'  "»'""  '^^'^'^'  enthusiastic  Sons  of 

day,  the  freemen  of  the  town  of  P  n  ^^  ?  *^'°  '''^^"'^ 

abroad  ■i.Hl  ..+Vn    /ii  V         P       Providence,  unsolicited  from 

,.;  1*      ^     I'Lrhonai  Jibeity  an  essential  part  of  the  mfm-nl 
rights  ot  nuankind,"  thej  expressed  tlie  wish  to  prohiWt     ' 
importation  of  nofn-o  shvo^  n,ui  t,.     ^  4^  pioiiiOit  the 

the  colony.  "  '      ^  *^  '°*  ^"'-'^  ''^^^  ^^'S^es  born  in 

On  the  nineteenth,  the  city  and  connty  of  ^^ow  York  inn. 
«  the.  new_.ommittee  with  the  foi^nali^^  ^^r^^: 
pro^ai.     T^vo  ])arties  ap])eared  in  array:  on  the  one  side  ^Z 
o    property;  on  the  other,  tradesmen'and  me  l"Z   "C 
bo^^m,  a  revolution,  the,^  seemed  to  contend  in  advaiTcewh  u'r" 
Jicn  future  government  should  be  formed  npon  the  basis  of 
property  or  on  purely  popular  principles.     The  im^  oftl" 
Poop^  were  ready  to  found  a  n!..  social  order  '^btW 

ela.s  If  1   would  but  make  with  them  a  common  cause  •  and    1 

bee'"b"^'  -here  Wedderbm.  and  Hutchinson  had 
TM         V  efhgy,  the  letter  from  the  ]S"ew  Fork  Snn«  .^ 

c.sen,cr  from  Boston  amvcd  witi,  despatches,  J,o  fouad 


im.      AMERICA  SUSTAINS  THE  TOWX  OF  BOSTON.  H 

Cliarles  Thomson,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Joseph  Eeed,  and  others 
preparing  to  call  a  pnblic  meeting  on  the  evening  of  the  next 
day. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twentieth,  the  king  gave  in  person 
his  assent  to  the  act  whidi  made  the  British  commander-in- 
chief  in  America,  his  army,  and  the  civil  officers,  no  longer 
amenable  to  American  courts  of  justice ;  and  to  the  act  wlitch 
nmtilated  the  charter  of  Massachusetts,  and  destroyed  the  free- 
dom of  its  town-meetings.     "  The  huv,"  wrote  Gamier,  "  the 
extremely  intelhgent"  French  charge,  "must  either  lead  to 
the  complete  reduction  of  the  colonies,  or  clear  the  way  for 
their  independence."    - 1  wish  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart," 
said  the  duke  of  Eichniond,  during  a  debate  in  the  house  of 
lords,  "  that  the  Americans  may  resist,  and  get  the  better  of 
the  forces  sent  against  them."    Four  years  later.  Fox  observed  • 
"The  alteration  of  the  government  of  Massachusetts  was  cer- 
tainly a  most  caiHtal  mistalce,  because  it  gave  the  whole  conti- 
nent reason  to  thiidv  that  their  govermnent  was  liable  to  be 
subverted   at   our  pleasure   and    rendered   entirely   despotic 
From  thence  all  were  taught  to  consider  the  town  of  Boston 
as  sulfei-ing  in  the  common  cause." 

While  the  king,  in  the  presence  of  pariiaraent,  was  accept- 
ing tlie  laws  wliieh  began  a  civil  war,  in  Philadelphia  the  Pres- 
byterians, true  to  their  traditions,  held  it  right  to  resist  tyranny  • 
"the  Germans,  who  C(..aposed  a  large  part  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  province,  were  all  on  the  side  of  liberty ; »  the  merchants 
refused  to  sacrifice  their  trade ;  the  Quakers  in  any  event  scru- 
l)led  to  use  arms;  a  numerous  class,  like  Reed,  cherished  the 
most  passionate  desire  for  a  reconciliation  with   the  mother 
country.     The  cause  of  America  needed  intrepid  counsellors- 
but  the  great  central  state  fell  under  the  influence  of  Dickinson' 
ills  clanns  to  public  respect  were  indis])utable.     He  was  hon- 
ored for  spotless  morals,  eloquence,  and  good  service  in  the 
colonial  legislature.     His  writings  had  endeared  him  to  Amer- 
ica as  a  suieere  friend  of  lil,erty.     Residing  at  a  comitry  seat 
which   overiooked  Philadelphia   and   the  Delaware  river,  he 
dehghted  m  study  and  repose,  and  Avanted  boldness  of  will. 
lie  had  an  excellent  heart,  and  the  cause  of  his  country  lay 
near  it ;     "  he  loved  the  people  of  Boston  with  the  tenderness 


0 


1 


M 


12 


A.MEUIC.V  AliMS  I-oi!  SEI.P-DKpExi.p: 


lir*.  III. ;  (  ],-,  !. 

of  a  l,r„Hi<.,;"    y,,t  ],„  „,„  .    I 

t.m.-i.c,i  l.v  (lu.ir  »,i,.„„-s.     -'TlicT  V      inv,  ,  "" 

ci.a  imiiimiis.     Dickinson,  luivin.^  conr-ilnhwi  fi 

i  »u(icncc,  wi.h  Dickmson  a:s  its  cliief. 

mum  Muith,  embodied  tlio  system  wliicli   fnv  fl,  • 

J  oimi     WiULll,   lor  tile    {'Ollljllo' 


I 

?, 

1 


17T4.       AMKUTCA  SUSTAINS  THE  TOWN  OF  BOSTON 


13 


iiau 


your,  was  to  control  tlio  conn.'^els  of  Ainoriea.  It  i)r()po,sod  a 
pMit-ral  coii^nvss  of  deputies  from  tlie  dilfereiit  coloiues,  wlio, 
in  tiriu  l»iit  dutiful  terms,  sliould  malca  to  the  kiii;^  a  petition  of 
their  ri<;jhrs.  'j'his,  it  was  l)vlieved,  would  he  granted  throngl: 
the  iidhieiiee  of  the  wise  and  good  in  the  motiier  country 
and  the  most  sanguine  predicted  tliat  the  very  idea  of  a  <i:eueral 
congress  would  couipel  a  cliange  in  tlie  i)oli(wof  Great  I'ritain. 

Ju  like  manner,  the  iifty-one  who  now  represented  tlie  city 
and  county  of  ^Sew  York  adopted  from  their  i)re(lcces.sors  th'o 
jtlan  of  a  continental  congress,  and  to  that  hody  they  referred  all 
(picstions  relating  to  commerce,  thus  postponing  the  ])roposal 
for  an  immediate  susj)eusion  of  trade,  l)ut  connnitting  them- 
selves irrevocably  to  union  and  resistaiice.  At  the  same  time 
they  invited  every  county  iu  the  colony  to  make  choice  of  a 
connnittcQ. 

The  messenger,  on  his  return  with  the  letters  fn.m  I'liila- 
del[)hia  and  .\e\\  York,  found  the  peoi)le  of  Connecticut  anx- 
ious for  a  congress,  .  ,en  if  it  should  not  at  once  endjrace  the 
colonies  south  of  the  Potomac;  and  their  committee  wisely 
entreated  ]\Iassachusetts  to  lix  the  place  and  time  for  its 
meeting. 

At  Boston,  tlie  agents  and  supportei-s  of  the  British  minis- 
tei-s  strove  to  bend  the  iinnness  of  its  people  hy  holding  up  to 
the  tradesmen  the  gi-im  picture  of  misery  and  want;  while 
Hutchinson  promised  to  obtain  in  England  a  restoration  of 
trade,  if  the  town  would  but  pay  the  first  cost  of  the  tea.  Be- 
fore his  departure,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  merchants 
and  others  of  Boston  addressed  him,  "  lamenting  the  loss  of  so 
good  a  governor,"  C(»nfessing  the  propriety  of  indenniifying 
the  East  India  company,  and  aippealing  to  his  most  benevolent  » 
disposition  to  ])rocure  by  his  representations  some  speedy  re- 
lief; but  at  a  full  meeting  of  the  merchants  and  tradei's  the 
address  was  disclaimed.  Thirty-three  citizens  of  Marblehead, 
M'ho  signed  a  similar  paper,  brought  upon  themselves  the 
public  reprobation  of  their  townsmen.  Twenty-four  lawyers, 
including  judges  of  admiralty  and  attorneys  of  the  crown,' sid)- 
scribL'd  an  extravagant  panegyric  of  llutcl'iinson's  general  char- 
acter and  conduct;  but  those  who  for  leariung  and  integrity 
most  adorned  their  profession,  withheld  their  names. 


U  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       ep.  m. ;  en.  i. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  necessity  of  a  response  to  tlie  cour- 
age of  the  people,  the  hearty  adliesion  of  the  town  of  Provi- 
dence, and  the  cheering  letter  from  tlie  old  committee  of  New 
lork,  animated  a  majority  of  the  merchants  of  Boston,  and 
through  then-  example  those  of  the  province,  to  an  engage  nent 
to  ce.u.e_al  nnportations  fron.  England.     Confidence  prevailed 
that  their  brethren,  at  least  as  far  south  as  Philadelphia,  would 
embrace  the  same  mode  of  peaceful  resistance.     The  letter 
from  that  city  was  received  with  impatience.     But  Samuel 
Adams  suppressed  all  murmurs.     "  I  am  fully  of  the  Farmer's 
sentiments,"  said  he;  "violence  and  submiss  on  m  .uld  at  tl  i 
ime  be  equally  f..al;''  but  he  exerted  himself  the  moret 
ptoinoto  the  imiiiediate  -uspension  of  commerce 

TI,o  legfalat.™  of  Ma.ssaclmsotfa,  on  tl.e  ta  Wednesday  of 
JIaj-,  organized  tl,e  government  for  the  year  by  tl.e  usnal  elec- 
tion of  conncdiors ;  of  these,  the  goveJor  ne^tived  tldrteen 
an,ong  then.  Jan.es  Bowdoin,  Samnel  Dexter,  Wilh'ant  PhiZ' 
ad  John  Ada,ns,  than  who.n  the  province  conld  not  .C 
pu.vr  or  aider  men.    The  desi-^e  of  the  assemUy  that  he  wo.dd 
appon.t  a  f,u,t  was  refused ;  "  for,"  said  he  to  Dartmouth,  "  the 
r  qnest  was  on  y    „  give  a,,  opportunity  for  sedition  t^  flow 
fro.n  the  pulp.t."    On  Satu.-day,  the  twenty-eighth,  Sam,°d 
Adams  was  on  the  point  of  proposi,.g  a  general  eongr  ss/when 

dtrs.:™  """^^'^"'""^  "™-"»"»»^' '» - '  »ft-  '- 

'I'lie  people  of  Boston,  then  the  most  flourishing  eommer- 
cal  town  on  the  continent,  never  .■eg,.etted  their  bein.  the 
prme.pal  object  of  n.inisterial  vengeance.  "We  shall  S,it  r 
ma  good  canse,"  said  tl.e  thousands  who  depended  on  their 
dady  labor  for  bread  ;  "  the  righteous  Eemg,  who  takes  caeot 
the  .avens  that  cry  nnto  him,  will  provide  for  ns  and  ours." 

Hearts  glowed  w.-u',nly  on  the  banks  of  tl.e  Patapsco.  That 
ad,n.rable  s.  e  fo.-  com.nerce-whose  river-side  and  1  ill-tops  a,l 
now  cove,cd  with  st  fely  wa,-chonses,  n.ansions,  and  ,nonu! 
mens,  whose  b,ay  sparkles  rou..d  tl.e  p..ows  of' the  swiftest 

So  ;  '  1         "  "  f  '","'"  ''"'  ^'^  »*  "'«  ■*^«^'  I"d!es  and 
South  A.ner.ca,  and  wd.ose  happy  enterp,-ise,  avaihng  itself  of 

Its  neai-ness  to  the  west,  sends  across  the  ...onntains  its  iron 

pathw.ay  of  many  arms-had  for  a  centmy  been  tenanted  only 


1774.      AMEKICA  SUSTAINS  THE  T^WN   OF  BOSTON.  15 

Ly  straggling  cottages.     But  its  convenient  proximity  to  the 
border  counties  of   Pennsylvpnia  and  Virginia  had  been  ob- 
eerved  by  Scotcb-Irisli  Presbyterians  and  otliers;  and  within 
a  few  years  they  had  created  the  town  of  Baltimore,  which 
already  was  the  chief  emporium  within  the  Chesapeake  bay. 
When  the  messages  from  the  old  conmiittee  of  New  York' 
from  Philadelphia,  and  from  Boston,  reached  its  inhabitants' 
they  could  not  "  see  the  least  grounds  for  exj)ecting  relief  from 
a  petition  and  remonstrance."     Calling  to  mind  the  contempt 
with  which  for  ten  years  their  petitions  had  been  thrust  aside 
they  were  '^  convinced  that  something  more  sensible  than  sup- 
plications would  best  serve  their  purpose." 

After  consultation  with    the    men    of    Annapolis,   who 
promptly  resolved  to  stop  all  trade  with  Great  Britain,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city  and  county  of  Baltimore  advocated  sus- 
pending  commerce  with  Great  Britain  and  the  West  Indies, 
chose  deputies  to  a  colonial  convention,  recommended  a  con- 
tinental congress,  appointed  a  numeroui?  committee  of  corre- 
spondence, and   sent   cheering  words   to  their  "friends"  at 
Boston.     "  The  Supreme  Disposer  of  all  events,"  said  they 
''  will  terminate  this  severe  trial  of  your  patience  in  a  happy 
conhrmation  of  American  freedom."    For  this  spirited  conduct, 
Baltimore  was  applauded  as  the  model;  and  its  example  kin- 
dled new  life  in  New  York. 

On  the  twenty- eighth,  the  assembly  of  New  Hampshire, 
though  still  desiring  to  promote  harmony  ^vith  the  parent  land 
began  its  organization  for  resisting  encroachments  on  American 
rights. 

Three  days  later,  the  people  of  New  Jersey  declared  for  a 
susjoension  of  trade  and  a  congress,  and  claimed  "to  be  fellow- 
sulierers  Avith  Boston  in  the  cause  of  liberty." 

For  South  Carolina,  the  character  of  its  labor  forbade  all 
thought  of  rivalHng  British  skill  in  manufactures.  Its  wealthy 
inhabitants,  shunning  the  occupations  of  city  life,  loved  to  re- 
side m  hospitable  elegance  on  their  large  and  productive  estates. 
Its  annual  exports  to  the  northern  provinces  were  of  smaU  ac- 
count, while  to  Great  Britain  they  exceeded  two  millions  of 
dollars  m  value.  Enriched  by  this  commerce,  its  people  chcr- 
isJied  a  warm  afTection  for  the  mother  country,  and  deli<.hted 


16  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.        kp.iii.;  rn.  t. 

in  son.li,,..  tlioir  sons  "l.onio,"  as  England  was  called,  for  their 
education.     The  liarl^or  of  C'harlostoii  was  almost  niipcnardcd 
excci)t  by  the  sand-bar  at  its  entrance.    The  ("reeks  and  Cl.ero- 
kees  on  tlie  frontier,  against  whom  the  English  government 
Jiad  ouco  been  solicited  by  8(wth  Carolina  herself  to  send  ovi-r 
a  body  of  troops  as  a  protection,  were  still  numerous  and  war- 
hke.     The  negro  slaves,  who  in  the  country  near  the  ocean 
very  far  outnum])ered  the  free,  were  so  manv  h()sta<n>s  for  the 
allegiance  of  their  masters.     The  trade  of  Charlesh)n  Avas  m 
the  hands  of  IJritish  factors,  some  of  whom  speculated  already 
on  the  coming  coi.liscation  of  the  rice-swamps  and  in dio-o- fields 
of  "many  a  bonnio  rebel."     TJie  U])land  country  was'^numer- 
ously  ]x"opIed  by  loyal  men  who  felt  no  grievances.     And  yet 
the  planters  refused  to  take  counsel  of  their  interests  or  their 
danger.     "Boston,"  said  they,  "is  but  the  iirst  victim  at  the 
altar  of  tyranny."     lleduccd  to  the  dilennna  either  to  hold 
their  liberties  as  tenants  at  will  of  the  IJritish  house  of  com- 
mons, or  to  ])repare  for  resistance,  their  choice  was  never  in 
d()ubt.     "  The  whole  cont?nent,"  they  said,  "  must  bo  animated 
with  one  great  soul,  and  all  Americans  must  resolve  to  stand 
by  one  another  even  unto  death.     fShould  they  fail,  the  con- 
stitution of  tlie  mother  country  itself  would  lose'its  excellence." 
They  knew  the  imminent  ruin  whieh  they  risked ;  but  they 
"remembered  that  the   happiness   of  many  generations  and 
many  millions  depended  on  their  spirit  and  const  mcy." 

The  burgesses  of  Ali-ginia  sat  as  usual  in  May.    The  exten- 
sion of  the  i)rovince  to  the  west  and  north-west  was  their  great 
ambition,  which  the  governor,  greedy  of  a  largo  possess-'on  of 
land  and  of  fees  for  coTuiiving  at  the  accpiisitions  of  others, 
seliishly  seconded  iu  flagrant  disregard  of  his  instructions.     To 
Lady  Dumuore,  who  luul  just  arrived,  the  assembly  voted  a 
congratulatory  address,  and  its  members  invited  her  to  a  ball. 
The  thought  of  revolution  was  not  harbored;  1)ut  they  none 
the  less  held  it  their  duty  to  resist  the  systematic  pltm  of  par- 
liamentary despotism  ;  and,  without  waiting  for  an  a])peal  from 
Boston,  they  resolved  on  its  deliverance.     First  among  them 
as  an  orator  stood  Patrick  Henry.     I]ut  elorpience  was  his  least 
merit :  he  was  revered  as  the  ideal  of  a  patriot  of  Borne  in  its 
austerest  age.     At  the  approach  of  danger  his  language  gained 


1774.      AMERICA  SUSTAINS  THE  TOWN  OF  BOSTON.  17 

the  boldncs  of  prophecy.     Ho  was  bonio  xm  bv  tl.o  stronrr 
support  of  Richard  Henry  Lee  and  Washington."   It  chanced 
that  George  Mason  was  then  at  Williamsburg,  a  n.an  of  strong 
andtruoafections;  learned  in  constitutional  law ;  a  profound 
reasoner ;  honest  and  fearless  in  council ;  shunning  tlie  ways  of 
ambition  from  sorrow  at  the  death  of  his  wife  for  whom  he 
never  ceased  to  mourn;  but  earnestly  mindful  of  his  country 
as  became  one  whoso  chastened  spirit  looked  beyond  the  in^ 
terests  of  the  moment.     After  deliberation  with  these  associ- 
ates  Jeirorson_  prepared  the  resolution  which,  on  the  twenty- 
fourth,  at  the  instance  of  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  the  house  of 
burgesses  adopted      In  the  name  of  Virginia  it  ^commended 
o  their  f el  ow-citizens  that  the  day  on  which  the  Boston  port 
act  was  to  take  effect  should  be  set  apart  "  as  a  day  of  fasLg 
and  pra>'ei.   devoutly  to  implore  the  divine  interposition  fof 

tlieir  civil  r,ghts,  and  the  evils  of  a  civil  war ;  and  to  give  to 
the  American  people  one  heart  and  one  mind  firmlvto  oppose 

The  resolve  which  bound  only  the  members  themselv,>s  wa^ 
distributed  by  express  through  their  respective  counties  al" 
general  invitation  to  the  people.  Especidlv  Washington  Tent 
1.0  notice  to  his  constituents;  and  Mason^harg^d  l^sl  ttl 
hcusehokl  of  sons  and  daughters  to  keep  the  da^  stnclv  and 
attend  church  clad  in  mourning.  ^  ^'      "* 

On  the  morning  which  followed  the  adoption  of  this  meas- 
ure Dunmoio  d  ssolvcd  the  hnnqn  Ti,^  i  • 
repaired  to  ih.  7?  7  /  !  .'  ""  ^>i"-gesses  immediately 
repaired  to  the  Raleigh  tavci-n,  about  one  hundred  paces  from 
he  capitol;  and  with  Peyton  Randolph,  their  lato  ^j  eaker  S 
the  chair,  voted  that  tJie  attack  on  Massachusetts  was  an  attack 
on  all  the  colonies,  to  be  opposed  by  the  unitod  wilm  of  d 
In  conformity  with  this  declaration,  thev  advised     or  futu  e 

itandolph,  v.ilh  others,  a  committee  of  correspondence  to  invite 
u  general  concurrence  in  this  design.     As  yet  social  rel  til.! 

rfLiifrr  r  ^^-^^"^^^--^  whoiirD::::;fret5 

ntormation  respecting  western  affairs,  con-  .  .d  his  visits  at 
VOL.  IV.-2    ""  courtesy  and  of  ijatrlot- 


18  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.        kp.i.i.joh.i. 

ism  were  fulfilled  did  most  of  the  burgesses  return  home,  leav- 
ing their  eominittee  on  duty. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  the  twenty-ninth,  tlio  letters 
from  Boston  readied  Williamsburg.  So  important  did  they 
appear  that  the  next  moniing,  at  ten  o'eiock,  the  committee, 
having  called  to  their  aid  Washington  and  all  other  burgesses 
who  were  still  in  town,  inaugurated  a  revolution.  Being  but 
twenty-five  in  number,  they  refused  to  assume  the  resjjonsi- 
bility  of  definite  mea^^ures  of  resistance  ;  but,  as  the  province 
was  without  a  legislature,  they  summon<,'d  a  convention  of 
delegates  to  be  elected  by  the  several  counties,  and  to  meet  at 
the  capitol  on  the  first  day  of  the  ensuing  August. 

The  rescue  of  freedom  even  at  the  cost  of  a  civil  war,  a 
convention  of  the  people  for  the  regulation  of  their  own  in- 
ternal affaii-s,  an  annual  congress  of  all  rhe  colonies  for  the 
perpetual  assertion  of  common  rights,  were  t.iv.  policy  of  Vir- 
ginia. When  the  report  of  her  measures  reached  England,  the 
startled  ministers  called  to  mind  how  often  she  had  been  the 
model  for  other  colonies.  Iler  influence  continued  undimin- 
ished ;  and  her  system  was  promptly  adopted  by  the  people  of 
Korth  Carolina. 

"  Lord  North  had  no  expectation  that  we  should  be  thus 
sustained,"  said  Samuel  Adams;  "he  trusted  that  Boston 
would  be  left  to  fall  alone."  In  three  weeks  after  the  receipt 
of  the  port  act,  less  time  than  was  taken  by  the  unanimous 
British  parliament  for  its  enactment,  the  continent,  as  "  one 
great  commonwealth,"  made  the  cause  of  Boston  its  own. 


|i 


1774. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS. 


19 


one 


CHAPTER  II. 

PREPARATIONS    FOB    A    GENERAL    CONGRESS. 

June-August  1774. 

On  tl.e  first  day  of  June  1774,  Ilutclunson  embarked  for 
England  ;  and,  as  tlie  clocks  iu  the  lioston  belfries  finished 
tnlong  twelve,  the  blockade  of  the  harbor  began.     The  in 
habitants  of  the  town  were  chiefly  traders,  shi^wnghts,  and 
sadors;  and,  since  no  anchor  could  be  weighed,  no  sail  un- 
furled,  no  vessel  so  much  as  launched  from  the  stocks,  their 
cheerfu  mdustry  was  at  an  end.     No  more  are  they  to  1  y  Z 
keel  of  the  fleet  merchantman,  or  shape  the  rib  symmet/cally 
for  i^  frame,  or  strengthen  the  graceful  hull  by  knees  of  oak^ 
y  rds^  *^J  -^"-P7-t  -ed  masts,  or  bend  the  sails  to  the 
yards.     The  kmg  of  that  country  has  changed  the  busy  work- 
hops  into  scenes  of  compulsory  idleness  ;\nd  the  most  ski - 
ful  iiaval  artisans  in  the  world,  with  the  keenest  eye  for  forms 
o    beauty  and  speed,  are  forced  by  act  of  parliament  to  fold 
their  hands     Want  scowled  on  the  laborer  as  he  sat  with  Z 
yife  and  children  at  his  board.     The  sailor  roamed  the  s  teete 
bs  essly  without  hope  of  employment.    The  law  was  exe  uted 
with  a  rigor  that  went  beyond  the  intentions  of  its  ai  tta 
Not  a  scow  could  be  manned  to  bring  an  ox  or  a  sheen T; 
abundleof  hay  from  the  islands.    wL  carriage  fitrpic 

notfL"vanf.^t  ^'^  ^°^*°^ '^^"^  Charlestown  could 
TlS^^C^rlf^T'^T''''''''''  ^^^^^'  the  fishermen 
quin  a^^^^^^^^  '""  ''^"'^'^^^  ^""-"*  they  bestowed 

transport  fl         l         '"  ^^''  ^''''  "^  ^°«*^"'  ^<^re  obliged  to 
transport  their  offering  in  ^vagons  by  a  circuit  of  thirty  miles 
-  -  ju„es  ot  tlie  thiifty  merchants  were  at  ouce  made 


4-  ' 


20 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


HP.  III. ;  on.  n. 


^/uuioss  ;  the  costly  wharfs  which  c.xtonacd  far  into  tljo  clian- 
nel,  and  were  so  hitely  covered  with  the  produce  of  the  tropics 
and  witJi  Ku<r\iHh  hhriw,  were  bocouio  eoHtary  places;  the 
harbor,  which  had  refioimdai  iuce.>santly  witli  tlio  voices  of 
prosperous  coinmorco,  was  disturbed  by  no  sounds  but  from 
Hritish  vessels  of  war. 

At  Philadel])hia,  the  bolls  of  the  churches  wero  muffled 
and  tolled,  the  ships  in  i)ort  hoisted  their  colors  at  half  mast, 
and  nine  tenths  of  the  houses,  except  those  of  tlie  Friends' 
wore  shut  during  the  memorable  first  of  Juno.     In  Virginia' 
the  population  thronged  the  churches  ;  Washington  attended 
the  service,  and  strictly  kept  the  fast.     No  tinner  words  were 
addressed  to  the  suiTerers  than  from  Norfolk,  which  was  the 
largest  place  of  trade  in  that  "well-watered  and  extensive  do- 
mmion,"  and  lay  most  exposed  to  ships-of-war.     "  Our  hearts 
are  warmed  with  affection  for  you,"  such  was  its  messa-e  • 
"wo  address  the  Almighty  Ruler  to  support  you  in  your  afHic- 
tions ;  bo  assured  we  consider  you  as  suffering  in  the  common 
cause,  and  look  upon  ourselves  as  bound  by  the  most  sacred 
ties  to  support  you." 

"  If  the  pul^se  of  the  people,"  wrote  Jefferson,  "  beat  calmly 
imder  such  an  experiment  by  the  new  and  till  now  unheard  of 
executivc_  power  of  a  British  parliament,  another  and  another 
will  be  tried,  till  the  measure  of  despotism  bo  filled  uj)." 

At  that  time  the  king  was  so  eager  to  give  effect  to  the 
law  which  subverted  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  that,  acting 
upon  information  confessedly  insufficient,  he,  with  Dartmouth' 
made  out  for  that  province  a  comi)letolist  of  councillors,  called 
mandamus  councillors  from  their  appointment  by  the  crown 
Copies  of  letters  from  Franklin  and  from  Arthur  Leo  had  been 
obtained ;  Gage  was  secretly  ordered  to  procure,  if  possible, 
the  originals,  as  the  ground  for  arraigning  their  authors  for 
treason.     Thurlow  and  Wedderburn  furnished  their  opinion 
that  the  power  to  call  for  support  from  the  military  forces  be- 
longed to  the  governor  as  the  conservator  of  the  peace  in  all 
cases  whatsoever.     "  I  am  willing  to  suppose,"   svrote  Dart- 
mouth,  "  that  the  people  will  quietly  submit  to  the  con-ection 
their  ill  conduct  has  brought  upon  them;"  but,  should  they 
not  prove  so  docile,  Gage  was  reriuired  to  bid  the  troops  fire 


Uti 


.  ni, ;  on.  n. 

tljo  clian- 

liu  troj)ics 

laces;  tho 

voices  of 

but  from 

9  muffled 
lalf  mast, 

Friends, 
Virginia, 

attended 
:)rd8  were 

was  tho 
nsivo  do- 
ur liearts 
message ; 
3ur  afllic- 
common 
at  sacred 

it  calmly 
lieard  of 
I  another 
)." 

ct  to  the 
t,  acting 
rtmouth, 
r.^,  called 
3  crown, 
lad  been 
possible, 
;hors  for 
opinion 
)rce3  be- 
!e  in  all 
ie  Dart- 
iTection 
lid  they 
ops  lire 


1774.      PKEPARATIONS  FOR  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS.         21 

upon  them  at  his  discrofion  ;  and  was  informed  that  all  trials  of 
ot hcers  and  troops  for  homicides  i,i  A.nerica  were,  by  a  rocent 
act  of  parham-nt,  ren)oved  to  England. 

This  system  of  measures  was  Regarded  by  its  authors  as  a 
mas  erp.ece  of  statesmanship.     IJut  wh.re  was  tn.e  greatness 

»tors  i  ^\  ah  the  kmg,  who  preferred  the  loss  of  a  continent 
to  a  coniprom,se  of  absolute  power  i  Or  in  the  hu.nble  man- 
sion of  the  proscrd^ed  Sanu.el  Adams,  who  shared  every  sorrow 
of  his  native  town  ?  "  She  suffers,"  said  he,  -  with  dignity 
and  rather  than  submit  to  the  humiliating  terms  of  an  edict 
barbarous  beyond  precedent  under  tho  most  absolute  mon. 
archy,  sije  wdl  put  the  malice  of  tyranny  to  the  severest  trial. 
An  empire  is  rising  m  America ;  and  Britain,  by  her  multi; 

£7T"r"'  "  '^^^^^^'-^^'"^  that  independency  which  she 
dreads.  ^V,  ha^o  a  post  to  maintain,  to  desert  which  would 
entail  upon  us  the  curses  of  posterity.  The  virtue  of  our  an- 
cestors msp.res  U3  ;  they  were  contented  with  clams  and  mus- 
sels, lor  my  own  part,  I  have  been  wont  to  converse  with 
poverty;   and  I  can  live  happily  with  her  the  remainder  of 

country!^'         ''"  *^^'''^^  '°"'"^"'^  ''  '"^^  ^''-'^^"^P^i-  of  -7 

On  tho  second  of  June  the  Boston  committee  received  and 
read  the  two  bills,  of  which  the  one  was  to  change  helhar "r 
the  other  to  grant  impunity  to  the  British  army  for  acts  of 
vio  ence  in  enforcing  the  new  system.  "  They  excited  »  savs 
heir  record,  "a  Just  indignation  in  the  mindV  thfctnS 
tee,  _  whose  members  saw  their  option  confined  to  abiect  sub- 
mission or  an  open  rupture.     T^ey  longed  to  escape  the  neces- 

vl^^i  ^^  '^"''''^"^  '^^"°  ^^''^^"^^  ^vhich  might 

recall  their  oppressors  to  moderation  and  reason.    Accordinfly 

to  suspend  a  1  commercial  intercourse  with  the  mother  coun- 
try, and  neither  to  purchase  nor  eonsu.ne  any  merchandise 
from  Great  Britain  after  the  last  day  of  tho  enLng  A  ^^^^^^^ 
The  names  of  those  who  sho-.dd  refuse  to  sign  the  covemnt 
wore  to  be  published  to  tho  M'orld.  Copies  of  ^this  paper  were 
forwarded  to  every  town  in  tho  province,  with  a  letter  entrnt- 
ing  tho  subscriptions  of  all  the  people,  "'as  the  last  Id  only 


22  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.        kp.im.;  en.  ii. 

method  of  preserving  the  land  from  slavery  witliout  drcncliin*^ 
it  in  bleed."  ^ 

"Nothing,"  Huid  the  ])atriots,  "is  more  foreign  from  our 
hearts  than  a  spirit  of  rebellion,  notwithstanding  we  have  been 
contending  these  ton  years  with  Great  Britain  for  our  rights. 
What  can  they  gain  by  the  victory,  should  they  6ubjugat<rus  ? 
What  will  be  the  glory  of  enslaving  their  children  and  broth- 
ers? Nay,  how  great  will  be  the  danger  to  their  own  liber- 
ties!" The  people  of  the  country  towns  in  Massachusetts 
Bigned  "  the  league  and  covenant,"  coniident  that  they  would 
have  only  to  sit  still  and  await  the  bloodless  restoration  of 
their  rights.  In  this  expectation  they  were  conlirmed  by  the 
opinions  of  Burke  and  of  Franklin. 

From  the  conmiittee-room  in  Faneuil  Hall,  Samuel  Adams 
hastened  to  tlie  general  assembly,  whose  first  act  at  Salem  was 
a  protest  against  the  arbitrary  order  for  its  renuival.     The 
council,  in   making  the   customary  reply  to  the  governoi-'s 
speech,  was  listened  to  as  they  laid  claim  to  the  rights  of  Eng- 
lishmen without  diminuti(m  or  "  abridgment."    But  when  they 
proceeded  to  read  their  hope  "that  his  administration  would 
be  a  hajipy  contrast  to  that  of  his  predecessors,"  Gage  inter- 
rupted their  chairman  and  refused   to  receive  the   address, 
giving  as  his  reason  that  the  conduct  of  those  predecessors  had 
been  approved,  and  the.-efore  the  language  "was  an  insult  to 
the  king  and  an  affront  to  himself." 

The  house  of  representatives  was  the  fullest  ever  known 
The  continent  looked  to  them  to  fix  the  time  and  place  for  the 
meeting  of  the  general  congress.  This  re(,uired  the  utmost 
secrecy,  for  any  perceptible  movement  would  have  been  fol- 
lowed by  an  instant  dissolution.  The  governor  hoped  that  the 
legislature  would  lead  the  way  to  concession,  and  that,  on  the 
arrival  of  more  troops,  an  indemnity  to  the  East  India  com- 
pany  M'ould  find  supporters. 

"Don't  pay  for  an  ounce  of  the  damned  tea,"  v.-roto  Gads- 
den, on  the  fourteenth  of  June,  as  he  shipped  for  tlie  poor  of 
Boston  the  first  gifts  of  rice  from  the  ,)lanters  of  Carolina. 
On  that  day  the  lourth  regiment,  known  as  "the  king's  own," 
encamped  on  Boston  connuop  ;  the  next,  it  was  joined  by  tl'ie 
forty-third.     Two  comi^nies  of  artillery  and  eight  piecl-s  of 


1774.      riiEPARATlOXS  FOR  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS.  23 

ordnance  had  already  re-enforced  Castle  William ;  and  more 
battalions  of  infantry  were  hourly  expected.     The  friends  of 
government   exerted  every  art  to  win  over  the  tradesmen. 
"There  will  be  no  congress,"  they  said;    "New  York  wili 
never  appoint  members  ;  Massachusetts  must  feel  that  she  is 
deserted."     To  a  meeting  of  tradesmen,  a  plausible  speaker 
ventured  to  recommend  for  consideration  the  manner  of  pay- 
ing for  the  tea;  and,  after  some  altercation,  they  separated 
without  coming  to  any  resolution.     But  IVarrcn,  encouraged 
by  the  glowing  letter  from  Baltimore,  proved  to  his  friends 
that  the  payment  in  any  form  would  open  the  way  even  to  a 
total  submission.    ''  Yigilance,  activity,  and  patience,"  he  cried, 
"are  necessary  at  this  time ;  but  the  mistress  we  serve  is  Lib- 
erty, and  it  is  better  to  die  than  not  to  obtain  her."    "  We  shall 
be  saved,"  he  added ;  and,  that  no  cloud  might  rest  on  the 
"fortitude,  honesty,  and  foresight"  of  Boston,  a  town-meeting 
was  called  for  the  following  Friday. 

Samuel  Adams  received  a  summons  to  come  and  o-uide 
its  debates,  but  a  higlier  duty  kept  him  at  Salem.     He  had  on 
one  evening  secretly  consulted  four  or  five  of  his  colleagues ; 
on  another,  a  larger  number;  on  the  third,  so  many  as  thirty; 
and  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  seventeenth  of  June,  con- 
fident of  having  the  control  of  the  house,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  being  present,  he  locked  the  door,  and  proposed  a 
contniental  congress,  to  meet  on  the  first  day  of  September  at 
Pluladelphia,  where  there  was  no  army  to  interrupt  its  ses- 
sions.    Bowdoin,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  Gushing,  and 
Eobert  Treat  Paine  were  chosen  delegates.     To  defray  their 
expenses,  a  tax  of  live  hundred  pounds  was  apportioned  on  the 
provmce.     The  towns  were  charged  to  afford  speedy  and  con- 
stant relief  to  JJoston  and  Charlestown.     Domestic  manufac- 
tures were  encouraged,  and  it  was  strongly  recommended  to 
discontinue  the  use  of  all  goods  imported  from  the  East  Indies 
and  Great  Tbitain  until  the  grievances  of  America  should  be 
radically  redressed. 

In  the  midst  of  these  proceedings  the  governor  sent  his 
secretary  with  a  message  for  dissolving  the  assembly  ;  but  he 
knocked  at  its  door  in  vain,  and  could  only  read  the  proclama- 
tion  to  the  crowd  on  the  stairs. 


',11.1 


24  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       ep.  iii. ;  on.  n. 

Tlie  mimber  which  on  that  same  day  thronged  to  the  town- 
meetnig  m  1  aneuil  Hall  was  greater  than  the  room  would  hold 
bamuel  Adams  was  not  missed,  for  his  kinsman,  John  Adams' 
was  elected  moderator.     The  friends  to  the  scheme  of  indem- 
mfymg  the  East  India  company  for  their  loss  were  invited  to 
speak  freely,"  that  a  matter  of  such  importance  miffht  be 
tairly  discussed  in  the  presence  of  the  general  body  of  the 
peop  e ;  but  not  a  man  rose  in  defence  of  the  proposition. 
The  blockade,  the  fleets,  the  army,  could  not  bring  out  a  symp- 
tom of  compliance.  ^ 
A  month  before,  John  Adams  had  said:   "I  have  very 
httle  connection  with  public  affairs,  and  I  hope  to  have  less '' 
Por  many  years  he  had  refused  to  attend  town-meetings;  he 
had  kept  aloof  from  the  committee  of  correspondence,  and  had 
liaa  no  part  m  concerting  the  destruction  of  the  tea     The 
mornmg  of  that  day  dawned  on  him  in  puvate  life;  the  even- 
ing saw  lum  a  representative  of  Massachusetts  to  the  general 
congress     That  summer  he  followed  the  circuit  for  the  la.t 
time.     -Great  Britain,"  thus  Sewall,  his  friend  and  associate 
at  the  bar  expostulated  with  him,  as  they  strolled  together  on 
the  hi  1  that  overhangs  Casco  bay  with  its  thousand   isles, 
_  (xreat  nntam  is  determined  on  her  system ;  and  her  powe^ 
18  irresistible."     "  Swim  or  sink,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish 
with  my  country,  is  my  unalterable  detennination,"  answered 
Adams.     "I  see  we  must  part,"  rejoined  Sewall;  "but  this 
adieu  is  the  sharpest  thorn  on  which  I  ever  set  my  foot." 

Two  days  in  advance  of  Massachusetts,  the  assembly  of 
Khode  Island  unanimously  chose  delegates  to  the  general  con- 
gress, which  they  desired  to  see  annually  renewed. 

The  people  of  Maryland  met  at  Annapolis  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  June,  and,  before  any  message  had  been  received 
from  Salem,  elected  delegates  to  the  congress.  With  a  mod- 
esty worthy  of  their  courage,  they  apologized  to  Virginia  for 
moving  m  advance,  pleading  as  their  excuse  the  iuferiority  of 
their  province  in  extent  and  numbers,  so  that  less  time  was 
needed  to  ascertain  its  sentiments. 

The  martyr  tou-n  was  borne  up  in  its  agony  by  messages 
of  sympathy.  From  Marblehead  came  offers  to  the  Boston 
merchants  of  the  gratuitous  use  of  its  harbor,  its  whnrf«  U« 


1774.      PREPAPwVTIONS  FOR  A  GENERAL  00x\GREGS.         25 

wareliouscs,  and  of  all  necessary  personal  ai  tendance  in  lading 
and  unlading  goods.  Forty-eight  persons  were  found  in  Salem, 
willing  to  entreat  of  Gage  his  "patronage  for  the  trade  of  that 
place;"  but  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  of  its  merchants  and 
freeholders,  in  an  address  drafted  by  Timothy  Pickering,  re- 
pelled the  ungenerous  thought  "of  raising  their  fortunes  on 
the  ruin  of  cheir  suffering  neighbors." 

The  governor,  in  his  answer,  threw  all  blame  on  Boston 
for  refusing  to  indemnify  the  East  India  company;  and  he 
employed  every  device  to  produce  compliance.    It  was  pub- 
lished at  the  corners  of  the  streets  that  Pennsylvania  would 
refuse  to  suspend  commerce  ;  that  the  society  of  Friends  would 
arrest  every  step  toward  war;  that  Few  York  would  never 
name  deputies  to  a  congress;  that  the  power  of  Great  Britain 
could  not  fail  to  ci-ush  resistance.     The  exasperation  of  the 
selfish  at  their  losses,  the  innate  reverence  for  order  the  ha- 
bitual feeling  of  loyalty,  the  deeplj  seated  love  for  England,  the 
terrm-  mspired  by  regiments  and  ships-of-war,  the  allurements 
of  ofticial  favor,  the  confidence  that  the  king  must  prevail,  dis- 
posed a  considerable  body  of  men  to  concession. 

So  great  .v  as  the  throng  to  the  Boston  town-meeting  of  the 
twenty-seventh  of  June,  it  was  adjourned  from  Faneuil  Hall 
to  the  Old  South  meeting-house.     There  the  opposition  mus- 
tered their  utmost  strength,  in  the  hope  of  carrying  a  vote  of 
censure  on  the  committee  of  correspondence.     The  question  of 
paying  for  the  tea  was  evaded,  while  "the  league  and  cove- 
«an      vvas  cavilled  at.     It  was  proposed  that  Boston,  Hke  New 
York,  should  supersede  the  old  committee  by  a  more  moderate 
one.     The  patriot  Samuel  Adams,  finding  himself  not  onlv 
proscnbed  by  the  king,  but  on  trial  in  a  Boston  town-meetinl 
left  the  chair  and  took  his  place  on  tlie  fioor.     His  enemies 
engaged  with  him  in  debate  till  dark,  and,  at  their  own  request 
were  indulged  with  an  adjournment    On  the  next  day,  notS 
^andmg  the  utmost  exertion  „f  the  influence  of  th;  govern- 
ment the  inotion  of  censure  was  negatived  by  a  vast  mtjority. 
ihe  town  then,  by  a  decisive  vote,  bore  its  testimony  "to  the 
upright  intentions  and  honest  zeal  of  their  committee  of  cor 
respondence,"and  desired  thom  "  to  continue  steadfast  t  tie 
waj   ox  weli-aoing.-     Of  the  opposition,  one  hundred  and 


r 


20 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


KP.  III. ;  on.  n. 


twenty-nine,  cliiefly  tlie  addressers  to  IIutcLinson,  confident  of 
a  speedy  trinmpli  through  the  power  of  Britain,  ostentatiously 
set  their  names  to  a  protcot,  whicli,  under  the  appearance  of 
anxiety  for  tlio  prosperity  of  the  town,  recoiuinended  un- 
quahfied  submission.  They  would  have  robbed  Boston  of  its 
great  name  in  the  annals  of  the  worid. 

The  governor  hurried  to  the  aid  of  his  partisans;  and  on 
tlie  following  day,  without  the  consent  of  the  council,  issued 
the  proclamation,  from  which  British  influence  never  recov- 
ered.    He  called  the  combination  not  to  purchase  articles  im- 
ported from  Great  Britain  « unwarrantable,  hostile,  and  trai- 
torous;" its  subscribers,  "open  and  declared  enemies  of  the 
king  and  pariiament  of  Great  Britain;"  and  he  "enjoined  all 
magistrates  and  other  officers,  within  the  several  counties  of 
the  province,  to  apprehend  and  secure  for  trial  all  persons  who 
might  publish  or  sign,  or  mvite  others  to  sign,  the  covenant." 
For  any  puii^se  of  making  arrests  the  proclamation  was 
useless;   but,  as  the  exponent  of  the  temper  of  the  British 
administration,  it  was  read  throughout  the  continent  with  un- 
controllable indignation.     In  Boston  it  was  the  project  of  Gage 
to  fasten  charges  of  rebellion  on  individuals  as  a  pretext  for 
sending  them  to  jail.     On  Friday,  the  first  of  July,  Admiral 
Graves  arrived  in  the  Preston,  of  sixty  gxms;   on   Saturday, 
the  tram  of  artillery  Avas  encamped  on  the  common  by  the  side 
of  two  regiments  that  were  there  before.     On  Monday,  these 
were  re-enforced  by  the  fifth  and  thirty-eighth.     Arrests    it 
was  confidently  reported,  were  now  to  be  made.     In  this  mo- 
ment of  greatest  danger  the  Boston  committee  of  correspond- 
ence, Samuel  Adams,  the  two  Greenleafs,  Molineux,  Warren 
and  others  being  present,  considered  the  rumor  that  some  of 
them  were  to  be  taken  up,  and  voted  unanimously  "that  they 
would  attend  their  business  as  usual,  unless  prevented  bv  brutal 
force."  *' 

The  attempt  to  intimidate  gave  an  impulse  to  the  cove- 
nant. At  Plymouth,  the  subscribers  increased  to  about  a  hun- 
dred. The  general  excused  himself  for  not  executing  his 
threats  by  complaining  that  the  edicts  of  town-meetings  con- 
trolled the  pulpit,  the  press,  and  the  multitude,  overawed  the 
judges,  and  screened  "the  guiltv."     "The  imumntion  "  said 


in. ;  on.  ii, 

iifident  of 
iitatiously 
arance  of 
nded  un- 
ton  of  its 

! ;  and  on 
nl,  issued 
er  recov- 
ticles  im- 
and  trai- 
ls of  the 
[oined  all 
unties  of 
sons  who 
^enant." 
tion  was 
)  British 
with  un- 
of  Gage 
)text  for 
Admiral 
laturday, 
the  side 
17,  these 
•rests,  it 
this  mo- 
fespond- 
Warren, 
some  of 
lat  they 
y  brutal 

le  cove- 
i  a  hun- 
ing  his 
igs  con- 
ved  the 
1,"  said 


nn.   PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS.    27 

he,  "has  by  time  acquired  a  firmness  that  is  not  to  be  anni- 
hilated  at  once,  or  by  ordinary  methods." 

The  arrival  of  Hutchinson  in  England  lulled  the  king  into 
momentary  security.     Tryon,  from  New  York,  had  said  that 
the  ministers  must  i)ut  forth  the  ^vhole  power  of  Great  Britain 
if  they  would  bring  America  to  their  feet;  Carleton  thought 
It  not  safe  to  undertake  a  march  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  New 
lork  with  less  than  ten  thousand  men;  but  Hutchinson,  who, 
on  reaching  London,  was  hurried  by  Dartmouth  to  the  royal 
presence,  assured  tlie  king  that  the  port  bill  was  "  the  only  wise 
and  effective  method"  of  bringing  the  people  of  Boston  to 
submission ;  that  it  had  occasioned  among  them  extreme  alarm  • 
that  no  one  colony  would  comply  with  their  reqnest  for  a  gen' 
eral  suspension  of  commerce;  that  Rhode  Island  had  accom- 
panied  its  refusal  with  a  sneer  at  their  selfishness.     The  king 
listened  eagerly.     He  had  been  greedy  for  all  kinds  of  stories 
respecting  Boston;   had  been   told,  and  had   believed,  that 
Hutchinson  had  needed  a  guard  for  his  personal  safety ;  that 
the  New  England  ministers,  for  the  sake  of  promoting  liberty, 
preached  a  toleration  for  any  immoralities;  that  Hancock's 
bills,  to  a  large  amount,  had  been  dishonored.     He  knew  some- 
thing of  the  political  opinions  even  of  the  Boston  ministers, 
not  of  Chauncy  and  Cooper  only,  but  of  Pemberton,  whom,  as 


N 


a 


Inencl  to  government,  he  esteemed   "a  very  good  man" 
though  a  dissenter.     The  name  of  John  Adams,  who  had  only 
m  June  commenced  his  active  public  career,  had  not  yet  been 
heard  in  the  palace  which  he  was  so  soon  to  enter  as  the  min- 
ister of  a  republic.     Of  Gushing,  he  estimated  the  importance 
too  highly.     Aware  of  the  controlling  power  of  Samuel  Adams 
he  asked:  "  What  gives  him  his  influence?"  and  Hutchinson 
answered :  "A  great  pretended  zeal  for  liberty,  and  a  most  in- 
flexible  natural  temper.     He  was  the  first  who  asserted  the  in- 
dependency of  the  colonies  upon  the  supreme  authority  of  the 
kingdom."     For  nearly  two  hours  the  king  continued  his  in- 
quiries, and  was  encouraged  in  the  delusion  that  Boston  would 
be  left  unsupported.     The  author  of  the  pleasing  intelhgence 
obtained  a  large  pension,  was  offered  the  rank  of  baronet,  and 
was  consulted  as  an  oracle ;  among  others,  by  the  historian 
vxiDoon. 


II 


28  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.       EP.nr.;on.n. 

"I  have  just  seen  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,"  wrote 
the  king  to  Lord  Nortli,  "and  I  am  now  well  convinced  the 
province  will  soon  submit."     But,  as  soon  as  the  true  character 
of  the  port  act  became  known  in  America,  every  colony,  every 
city,  every  village,  and,  as  it  were,  the  inmates  of  every 'house, 
felt  it  as  a  wouulI  of  their  affections,  and  vied  with  each  other 
in  liberality.     The  record  kept  at  Boston  shows  that  "  the  pa- 
triotic and  generous  people  "  of  South  Carolina  were  the  first  to 
minister  to  the  sufferers,  sending  early  in  June  two  hurdred 
barrels  of  rice,  and  promising  eight  hundred  Uiure.    At  Wil- 
mington, North  Carolina,  the  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds 
currency  was  raised  in  a  few  days;  the  women  of  the  place 
gave  liberally ;  Parker  Quince  offered  his  vessel  to  carry  a  load 
of  provisions  freight  free,  and  master  and  mariners  volunteered 
to  navigate  her  without  wages. 

Hartford  was  first  in  Colmecticut  to  pledge  assistance ;  but 
the  earl  u  St  donation  was  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  sheep 
from  Windham.  "Gentlemen"  of  Norwich  drove  two  hun- 
dred  and  ninety-one,  the  gift  of  that  town.  «  The  taking  away 
of  civil  liberty  will  involve  the  ruin  of  religious  liberty,"  wrote 
the  ministers  of  Connecticut  to  the  ministers  of  Boston,  cheer- 
ing them  to  bear  their  heavy  load  "with  vigorous  Christian 
fortitude  and  resolution."  "While  we  complain  to  heaven 
and  earth  of  the  cruel  oppression  we  are  under,  we  ascribe  right- 
eousness to  God,"  was  the  answer.  "  The  surprising  union  of 
the  colonies  affords  encouragement.  It  is  an  inexhaustible 
source  of  comfort  that  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth." 

The  small  parish  of  Brooklyn,  in  Connecticut,  through  their 
committee,  of  which  Israel  Putnam  was  a  member,  opened  a 
correspondence  with  Boston.  "  Your  zeal  in  favor  of  liberty," 
they  said,  "has  gained  a  name  that  shall  perish  but  with  the 
glorious  constellations  of  heaven."  Throughout  New  England 
the  towns  sent  rye,  flour,  peas,  cattle,  sheep,  oil,  fish,  whatever 
land  or  sea  could  furnish,  and  sometimes  gifts  of  money.  The 
French  and  English  inhabitants  of  Quebec  jointly  shipped  a 
thousand  and  forty  bushels  of  wheat. 

Delaware  devised  plans  for  sending  relief  annually.  A 
special  chronicle  could  hardly  enumerate  all  the  generous 
deeds.     Maryland  and  Virginia  contributed  liberally,  bein^ 


1774.      PREPARATIONS  FOP   A  GENERAL  CONGRESS. 


29 


wrote 


resolved  tliat  the  men  of  Eoston,  who  were  depriverl  of  their 
daily  labor,  should  not  lose  their  daily  bread,  nor  bo  compelled 
to  change  their  residence  for  want.     Washington  headed  a  sub- 
scription paper  with  a  gift  of  iifty  pounds,  and,  on  the  eigh- 
teenth of  July,  he  presided  at  a  convention  of  Fairfax  county, 
where  twenty-four  very  comprehensive  resolutions,  which  had 
been  drafted  by  George  Mason  and  carefully  revised  by  a  com- 
mittee, were  with  but  one  dissentient  voice  adopted  by  the 
freeholders  and  inhabitants.     They  derived  the  settlement  of 
Virginia  from  a  solemn  compact  with  the  crown,  conceded  no 
right  of  legislation  to  the  British  parliament,  acknowledged 
only  a  conditional  acquiescence  in  the  acts  of  navigation,  enu- 
merated the  various  infringements  of  American  rights,  pro- 
posed non-importation  and,  if  necessary,  non-exportation  as 
means  of   temporary  resistance,  urged  the  appointment  of  a 
congress  of  deputies  from  all  the  colonies,  and  recommended 
that  that  congress  should  conjure  the  king  «  not  to  reduce  his 
faithful  subjects  to  a  state  of  desperation,  and  to  reflect  that 
from  their  sovereign  there  could  be  but  one  appeal."     As  to 
the  further  importation  of  slaves,  their  words  Avere:   "We 
take  this  opportunity  of  declaring  our  most  earnest  wishes  to 
see  an  entire  stop  forever  put  to  such  a  wicked,  cruel,  and  un- 
natural trade."     These  resolves,  which  expressed  "  the  sense  of 
the  people  of  Fairfax  county,"  were  ordered  to  be  presented  to 
the  first  convention  of  Virginia.     "We  are  not  conterxdlng 
against  paying  the  duty  of  threepence  per  pound  on  tea  as 
burthensome,"  said  Washington ;  "  no,  it  is  the  right  only  that    ■ 
we  have  all  along  disputed." 

Beyond  the  Blue  Ridge,  the  emigrants  on  the  banks  of  the 
Shenandoah,  many  of  them  Germans,  met  at  AVoodstock,  and 
with  Muhle- berg,  then  a  clergyman,  soon  to  be  a  military 
chief,  devoted  themselves  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  Higher  up 
the  valley  of  Virginia,  where  the  plough  already  vied  with  the 
rifle,  and  the  hardy  hunters  had  begun  to  till  the  soil,  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year  ripened  the  wheat-fields  of  tlie  pioneers  not 
for  themselves  alone.  When  the  sheaves  had  been  harvested, 
and  the  corn  threshed  and  ground  in  a  country  as  yet  poorly 
provided  with  barns  or  mills,  the  backwoodsmen  of  Augusta 
county,  without  any  pass  thi-ough  the  mountains  that  could  be 


V 


m 


80  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  u. 


called  a  road,  delivered  at  Frede.  ok  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  barrels  of  ilonr  as  their  remittance  to  the  poor  of  lioston. 
Cheered  by  the  universal  synipatiiy,  its  inhabitants  «  were  de' 
terniined  to  hold  out,  and  appeal  to  the  justice  of  the  colonies 
and  of  tlie  vrorld,"  trusting  in  God  that  "these  things  should 
be  overruled  for  the  establishment  of  liberty,  virtue,  and  hap- 
piness in  America." 

George  III.  ranked  "Xew  York  next  to  Boston  in  opposi- 
tion to  government."     There  was  no  place  where  a  congress 
was  more  desired,  and  none  where  the  determinations  of*  the 
congress  were  more  sure  to  be  observed.     The  numerous  emi- 
grants  from  New  England  brought  with  them  New  England 
principles ;  the  Dutch,  as  a  body,  never  loved  Britain.     Of  two 
great  families  which  the  system  of  manorial  grants  had  raised 
up,  the  Livingstons  inclined  to  republicanism,  and,  uniting 
activity  to  wealth  and  ability,  exercised  a  predominant  influ- 
ence.    The  Delanceys— who,  by  taking  advantage  of  temporaiy 
prejudices,  had,  four  years  before,  carried  the  assembly— no 
longer  retained  the  public  confidence,  and  outside  of  the  le^ris. 
lature  their  power  was  imperceptible.  "^ 

After  being  severed  from  Holland,  its  mother  country.  New 
York  had  no  attachment  to  any  European  state.     All  agreed  in 
the  necessity  of  resisting  the  pretensions  of  England ;  but  dif- 
ferences arose  as  to  the  persons  to  be  intrusted  with  the  direc- 
tion of  that  resistance,  and  as  to  the  imminence  and  extent  of 
the  danger.     The  merchants  wished  no  interruption  to  com- 
merce ;  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  as  well  as  the  Episco- 
palians, were  not  free  from  jealousy  of  the  Congregationalists, 
and  the  large  landholders  were  alarmed  by  the  social  equality 
of  New  England.     The  people  of  New  York  had  destroyed 
consignments  of  the  East  India  company's  tea ;  but  the  British 
ministry  bore  their  act  without  rebuke,  striving  by  bland  lan- 
guage to  lull  them  into  repose.     The  executive'officers  had  for 
several  years  avoided  strife  with  the  assembly.     The  city  had 
been  the  centre  of  British  patronage,  and  friends  had  been 
won  by  the  distribution  of  contracts,  and  sometimes  by  com- 
missions in  the  army.     Tlie  organs  of  the  ministry  were  to 
promise  on  the  part  of  the  crown  a  spirit  of  equity,  which  its 
conduct  towaj'd  the  province  seemed  to  warrant  as  sincere. 


'.  III. ;  en.  u. 

nd  tliirty- 
of  Boston, 
'were  de- 
e  colonies 
igs  sliould 
,  and  liap- 

in  opposi- 
congress 
lis  of  the 
rous  emi- 
England 
Of  two 
lad  raised 
,  uniting 
mt  iuflu- 
3mporary 
lably — no 
the  legis- 

try,  New 
igreed  in 
but  dif- 
he  direc- 
3xtent  of 
to  com- 
Ejiisco- 
ionalists, 
equality 
estroyed 
1  British 
and  Ian- 
had  for 
city  had 
ad  been 
by  corn- 
were  to 
'hich  its 
sincere. 


1774.      PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS.  31 

The  lovers  of  peace,  which  is  always  so  dear  to  a  commercial 
community,  revolted  at  the  thought  of  an  "appeal"  to  arms, 
caught  eagerly  at  every  chance  of  an  honorable  escape  frona  a 
desperate  convict,  and  exerted  themselves  strenuously  to  secure 
the  management  of  affairs  to  men  of  property.     For  this  end 
they  relied  on  the  ability  of  John  Jay,  a  young  lawyer  of  New 
York.     Descended  from  Huguenot  refugees,  educated  in  the 
city  at  its  college,  of  the  severest  purity  of  morals,  an  able 
writer,  and  a  ready  speaker,  his  superior  endowments,  his  activ- 
ity, and  his  zeal  for  liberty,  were  tempered  by  a  love  for  order. 
He  was  both  shy  and  proud,  and  his  pride,  though  it  became 
less  visible,  suffered  no  diminution  from  time.     Tenacious  of 
his  pui-poses  and  his  opinions,  sensitive  to  indignities  and 
prone  to  sudden  resentments,  not  remarkable  foi  self-posses- 
sion, with  a  countenance  not  trained  to  concealment,  neither 
easy  of  access  nor  prompt  in  his  advances,  he  was  alike  with- 
out talents  or  inclination  for  intrigue,  and  but  for  his  am- 
bition, Avhieh  he  always  subjected  to  his  sense  of  ri-ht   he 
woiild  have  seemed  formed  for  a  life  of  study  and  retirement 
On  the  fourth  of  July  177^,  it  was  carried  in  the  committee 
of  fifty-one  that  delegates  should  be  selected  to  serve  in  the 
general  congress.     Sears,  who  was  still  foremost  in  the  con- 
fidence of  the  mechanics,  seconded  by  Peter  van  Bruo-h  Liv- 
ingston, a  man  of  great  intelligence,  proposed  John  Morhi  Scott 
and  Alexander  Macdougall.     Fitter  candidates  could  not  have 
been  found ;  but  they  Avere  both  passed  over  by  a  great  ma- 
jority and  the  committee  nominated  Philip  Livingston,  Alsop 
Low,  Duane,  and  Jay,  all  of  whom  as  yet  repressed  the  thought 
of  mdependence.    The  mass  of  the  inhabitants  resolved  to  de- 
feat this  selection.     On  Wednesday,  the  sixth  of  July,  many 
of  them,  especially  mechanics,  assembled  in  the  Fields-  and 
with  Macdougall  in  the  chair,  they  recommended  the  Boston 
policy  of  suspending  trade,  and  approved  a  general  congress, 
to  which,  after  the  example  of  Virginia,  they  proposed  to  elect 
representatives  by  a  colonial  convention. 

The  committee  of  fifty-one,  keeping  steadily  in  view  the 
hope  of  conciliation  with  England,  disavowed  the  meeting  in 
the  Fields.  A  minority  of  nine.  Sears,  Macdougall,  Yan  Bru^h 
Livingston  being  of  the  number,  in  their  turn  disavowed  the 


11 


In 


;ii 


32  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       e...  m. ;  en.  „. 

committee  f:omw]uc.h  they  wltl.drow.  The  conservative  party 
on  their  Bule,  oikTcd  roBolutiouH  which  .lay  luul  drafted  and 
tttrrTl/'  .uestiou  the  conduct  of  Uo'ston  in  ^^ 
the  tea  but  tlie  people,  n.oved  by  the  elo.p.cnce  of  John  JVl^ 
S^unir.' "^"'"'  then.  a.  wanting  in  vi/.r  and  tending  tt 

_      In  this  way  l)egau  the  conflict  of  two  parties  whicli  were  to 
increase  m  .nportance  and  spread   throughout  the   coun  ry 
The  one  held  to  what  was  established  and  made  chan..es  o  iJ 

meet  it"  tT'"'  ''''  f '^ -^^--^ -^-u  and  went  out  to 
meet  it.  1  ho  one  anchored  on  men  of  property ;  the  other  on 
O^e  niass  of  he  people:  the  one,  loving  lib.ny  ^ar  ever  aZ 
ions  for  order;  the  other,  firndy  attached  to  order  which  it 

redom!      °'  '''  '""^^^  ""'"^^"'  '"^''  "-inly  .mxiousfor 
During  this  strife  in  New  York  the  inhabitants  of  South 

t^i  ee  d  js.  Ihe  merchants,  among  whom  were  factoi-s  for 
Bntish  houses,  agreed  with  the  planters  in  the  necessity  of  a 

theS  t-  f  '"'•  ^"^'"^'  '^  '"'^y  ''  --P-mise,  referred 
the  legulat.on  of  commerce.  As  the  election  of  deputies  was 
to  be  contested,  the  name  of  each  voter  was  registei^  ^dZ 
bd lot  Iceptopentlll  nudnight  on  the  seventh.    Itth^n  ij" 

itr  tit  n"!  '"'  f'^'i  ,^'^^«^-^'  Vneh,  and  John  Rut- 
ledge,  the  boldest  members  of  the  congress  of  1705,  with  Edward 

Rutledge  and  Middleton.     The  delegates  elect  Ci:.  " 

ered  to  agree  to  a  suspension  of  exports  as  well  as  imports     A 

geneml  eonumttee  of  ninety-nine  was  appointed,  of  vhom  tl^ 

disproportionate  number  of  thir.y  were  taken  from  Charston 

and  nearly  all  the  rest  from  the  parishes  near  the  sea.    ^^"3 

jme  the  house  of  assembly,  meeting  at  ei.ht  in  the  moving 

jnst  half  an  hour  before  the  governor  sen^  to  prorogue  them 

totn;l''"°^"""'^^  '''''''''''  ''''  chLof-deltt^s 

AVimnLrr'^'^.f',^"^"^^'^^^"'*-^  ^^-^^'  ^v-ith   Thomas 
Wi  Img  for  Us  president,  was  but  an  echo  of  the  opinion  of 

mn  r'  T^T"'"''  "^  '^'"""^*^  *^  ^^'^"  E-*  Ma  corn- 
pan  ,di3.uaded  from  suspending  trade,  and  advised  the  gentler 
method  of  a  claim  of  redress.     The  idea  of  independence  they 


1774. 


PHEPARATfOXS  FOR  A  GENERAL  COXCJRESS. 


no 

att»,  tl  ey  «c,o  muly  to  ciifrngo  thoir  obcdicco  t„  tlio  acts  of 
to  the  CO,,  rol  of  |.a,-lia„,ont.  Thoy  a.fc,™l  tl,a  cl,„i™  o  1  J 
al,s.t.  had  a  „,ajonty  ;  for  Dicki„«o„  desi,^.d  to  „„.i,ri,,  T 

Tl,c^  views,  ,vl,ich  were  intended  as  in8t,-„oti„,„  from  tl„. 
pcoi,lo  to  1,0  ,non  ,vl,o  might  be  cI,oscn  to  ,-q„«    t  Zn  t 

™  suddenly  called  togotl,  r  on  he  o'l^Moc.  "/.'or;"',''''  "''"'.' 

inh.l.it  -^  "'°  "M'cses  of  a  ropresentatio.i  in  coiim-css  Tl,„ 
.t  ad  v:,fT  •'  "''"I'™^  "'"""'^^  theiraciol  W  Ji° 
spectacle  of  Jh'  "''°,'''?''«<' '"«'  stnpid  indifference  on  the 

Pocrisy  and  seditio,,.»  "''  "  P"-*'™^"™  •■•S-™^'  "hy- 

VOL.   IV.— 3 


i 


'(f 


r 


34  AMERICA  ARMS   FOR  SKLF-DKFEN'CE.        ep.  m. ;  en.  ii. 

Areiintime,  New  York  liiiil  grown  weary  of  disseiiHions. 
The  persons  nominated  for  congreHs  gave  in  writing  a  satisfuc- 
tory  profession  of  their  xeal  fur  liberty;  and,  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  July,  the  nominal  ion  was  unam'inoiisly  ratified  by 
the  inhubitantd.  Yet  the  delegation  was  lukewarm  and  di- 
vided, leaving  Virginia  to  give  the  example  of  energy  and 
courage. 

Dumnoro  had  issued  writs  for  an  assend)ly ;  but  tlio  dele- 
gates from  the  counties  of  Virgim"a  none  the  less  came  to- 
gether in  convention.     Illness  detained  Jelferson  on  the  road, 
but  he  sent  for  inspection  a  i)ai)er  which  foreshadowed  the 
declaration  of  independence.      It  was  presented  by  Peyton 
Randol])h,  and  printed  by  some  of  the  delegates.     Enumerat- 
ing tlie  grievances  which  atfected  all  the  co!<mies,  it  made  a 
special  ct)mi)laiiit  of  a  wrong  to  Virginia.     "  For  the  most 
trilling  reasons,"  said  he,  "and  sometimes  for  no  conceivable 
reason  at  all,  his  majesty  has  rejected  laws  of  the  most  salutary 
tendency.     The  abolition  of  domestic  slavery  is  the  great  ob- 
ject of  desire  in  those  colonies  where  it  was  unhappily  intro- 
duced in  their  infant  state.     But,  previous  to  the  enfranchise- 
ment of  the  slaves  we  have,  it  is  necessary  to  exclude  all  further 
importations  from  Africa  ;  yet  our  repeated  attempts  to  effect 
this  by  prohibitions,  and   by  imposing  duties  which   might 
amount  to  a  prohibition,  have  been  hitherto  defeated  by  his 
majesty's  negative,  thus  preferring  the  innnediate  advantage 
of  a  few  British  corsairs  to  the  lasting  interests  of  the  Ameri- 
can states,  and  to  the  rights  of  human  nature,  deeply  wounded 
by  this  infamous  practice."     Of  these  words  every  heart  ac- 
knowledged the  justice.     Moreover,  the  Fairfax  resolves,  in 
which  George  Mason  and  Washington  had  given  their  solemn 
judgment  against  the  slave-trade,  were  brought  by  the  Fairfax 
delegates  before  the  convention;  and,  in  August,  that  body 
came  to  the  unanimous  vote:  "After  the  first  day  of  Novem- 
ber next  we  will  neither  ourselves  import  nor  purchase  any 
slave  or  slaves  imported  by  any  other  pei  sctn,  either  from  Af- 
rica, the  "VVcGt  Indies,  or  any  other  place." 

On  the  affairs  of  ^Massachusetts  the  temper  of  the  Virgini- 
ans ran  exceedingly  high.  "An  innate  spirit  of  freedom," 
such  were  the  words  of  Washington,  "  tells  me  that  the  meaa- 


III. ;  cii.  II. 

sseiiHions. 
[I  HutiHfuc- 
j  tweuty- 
ititit'd  by 

I  iiiid  di- 
urgy  and 

tbo  delo- 
camo  to- 
tlio  road, 
jwcd  the 
'  Peyton 
luumerat- 
t  uiado  a 
the  most 
iiccivable 
;  sahitary 
^reat  ob- 
ily  intro- 
ranchise- 

II  iurther 
to  effect 

h  might 
d  by  his 
J vantage 
!  Ameri- 
kvounded 
lieart  ac- 
olves,  in 
•  solemn 
I  Fairfax 
lat  body 
Novem- 
lase  any 
rom  Af- 

Yirgini- 
eedora," 
be  meaa- 


1774.      r'KKP.\rj.\TIf)NS  FOIJ   A   CiENKUAL  CONGIiESS.         33 

uroH  which  the  adiiiii.i.fnKi.u  arc  most  violently  pur.s.iir.g  arc 
oppoHHd  to  every  principle  of  natural  jiHtiee."'    Ho  was  eor- 
tarn  that  it  was  neither  the  wish  nor  the  interest  of  any  <n,y. 
eminent  on  the  continent,  separately  or  collectively,  to  set  np 
independence;  but  he  rejected  indignantly  the  claim  of  par- 
iKUuent    and  saw  no  «'  reason  to  expect  anything  from  their 
justice.       -  I  he  crisis,"  he  Kiid,  "is  arrived  when  we  nmst 
assert  our  ri-hts,  or  submit  to  every  imposition  that  can  bo 
heaped  upon  us,  till  custom  a7id  use  shall  make  us  tame  and 
abject  slaves."     Fro.n  the  first,  he  was  convinced  that  th  re 
was  not  "anything  to  be  expected  from  petitioning."    "Ou  'l-fc 
we  not,  then,"  he  exclaimed,  "to  put  our  virtue  and  for''; 
Mdo   to   the   severest    test  T'      Thus    Washington    reasoned 
'    Ji  Ins  friends.     In  the  convention,  Richard  Henry  Lee  and 
-itrick     leno;  were  heard  with  such  delight  that  the  one  wiis 
compared  to  Cicero,  the  other  to  Demosthenes.    But  Washing- 
ton, who  never  was  able  to  see  distress  without  a  desire  to 
assuage  it,  Uuide  the  most  effective  speech  when  he  uttered  the 
wish  to  "raise  one  thousand  men,  subsist  them  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, and  march  at  their  head  for  the  relief  of  Boston  » 

Through  the  press,  the  great  lawyer  Thomson  lirason'denied 
the  right  of  a  hritish  parliament  to  make  laws  for  the  colo- 
nies and  specially  held  up  the  laws  of  navigation  "as  a  bad-e 
of  slavery,  never  to  be  submitted  to."  The  wrongs  done  to 
Boston  seemed  to  him  "little  less  than  a  declaratiot  of  war" 

oiVt  A  *'  '"  'i  *^''  ''^''"'"S  "^  ^'^  ^"^-^^  «»^'  general 
act  of  all  Amonca  let  each  colony,"  said  he,  "send  a  quota  of 

men  toperform  this  service,  and  let  the  respective  quotas  be 
settled  n.  tlie  general  congress.  These  measures  will  bo  the 
mos.  moderate,  the  most  constitutional,  and  the  most  effectual 
}ou  can  pursue.  I  do  not  wish  to  survive  the  liberty  of  my 
country  one  single  moment,  and  am  determined  to  risk  my 
all  ui  .v.;pporting  it."  -> 

restdoHonT'^''''  '"-^  mstructions  of  Virginia  claimed  that  the 
restuctious  on  navigation  sliould  be  restrained.  Especially 
were  they  incensed  at  the  threat  of  Gage  to  use  the  deadly 
weapon  of  constructive  treason  against^uch  iniu  L  slf 
Massachusetts,  as  should  assemble  to  consider  of  the!  griev- 
ances, and  form  associations  for  their  connnou  conduct^  Td 


li 


36  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       kimii.  ;  on.  ii. 

they  voted  that  "  the  attempt  to  execute  this  illegal  and  odious 
proclamation  would  justify  resistance  and  reprisal." 

The  first  provincial  congress  of  North  Carolina  met  in 
August,  at  Newborn,  under  the  eye  and  in  defiance  of  its  gov- 
emcr.  In  their  comprehensive  resolutions  the  rights  of  Amer- 
ica were  clearly  stated  and  absolutely  claimed ;  a  convention  of 
a  county  in  Massachusetts  could  not  have  better  enumerated 
the  acts  of  that  i)rovince  which  they  approved.  If  grievances 
were  not  redressed,  they  were  ready  to  cease  all  importations 
and  all  exportations  even  of  the  staples  on  which  their  pros- 
perity depended.  They  heartily  approved  the  meeting  of  a 
continental  congress ;  and  electing  Hooper,  Hughes,  and  Cas- 
well as  their  deputies,  they  invested  them  with  the  amplest 
powers. 

After  their  adjournment,  James  Iredell,  of  Edenton,  a 
British  official,  addressed  through  the  press  the  inhabitants  of 
Great  Britain,  as  constituting  the  greatest  state  on  earth  be- 
cause it  was  the  most  free ;  and  as  able  to  preserve  the  connec- 
tion with  America  only  by  delighting  in  seeing  their  friends 
as  free  and  happy  as  themselves. 


1774. 


MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CHARTER. 


37 


CHAPTER  ill. 

MASSACHUSETTS   BEFEATS  THE  ATTEMPT  OF   TirE  BRITISH  PAE- 
LIAMENT  TO  CUANGE   ITS  CHARTER. 

May-August  1774. 
courted  the  Ir^.^^^^^'^^  tt  f  T'  "?''  "'''• 

"des.red  one  »  of  the  people,  wMle  not  ;et  twtrfe™ 'old 
««dden  y  beeame  king.    The  eitv  of  T>L  ™  AaM^^.  ^k 

ahXe  Se     "  iteS  if  "^"''  ''"'  "'"''  °*  '^»  "^ 
1  iiuuu.        110  excels  in  wntins:  Drose  "  smM  V^ifn.--^ 

The  youno^  mouarcli,  when  heir  to  tlie  thronp  nf  P.. 
had  not  boon  admitted  to  the  royal  counc     and  hn  1  ' 

ills  turn  of  mind  was  sprinna  ,.of  i  •  "nj.oi  ^iti;ce. 

w^  serious,  yet  his  countenance   betrayed 


n    nl 


38  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR   SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  „i.  ;  on.  ,„. 

irresolution,  foreboding  an  unsteadiness  in  the  administration 
Hpnngmg  from  lus  own  character,  and  making  liis  life  a  lon^ 
equipoise  between  right  intentions  and  executive  feebleness" 
Ho  believed,  like  lus  predecessor,  that  the  king  alone  should 
reign  ;  yet  his  state  papers  were  soon  to  cite  reverently  the  law 
of  nature  and  the  rights  of  man;  and  the  will  of  the  people 
was  to  walk  its  rounds  in  the  palace,  invisible  yet  supreme 

Mane  Antoinette,  the  new  queen,  in  the  splendor  of  supreme 
rank,  preserved  the  gay  cheerfulness  of  youth.     Soon  after  her 
arrival  m  France  her  mother  wrote  to  her:  "  God  has  crowned 
you  with  so  much  grace  and  sweetness  and  docility  that  all  the 
world  must  love  you."     She  was  conscious  of  being  lovely 
and  was  willing  to  be  admired;  but  she  knew  how  to  temper 
graceful  condescension  with  august  severity.      Impatient  of 
stately  etiquette,  which  controlled  her  choice  of  companions 
even  more  than  the  disposition  of  her  hours,  she  was  rlady  S 
break  away  from  wearisome  formalities  with  eager  vivacity 
Irom  the  same  quickness  of  nature  she  readily  t.ok  part  in 
any  prevailing  public  excitement,  regardless  of  reasons  of  state 
Caronde  Leaumarchais,  the  sparkling  dramatist  and  rest- 
less plebeian  adventurer,  made  haste  to  recommend  to  the 
royal  patronage  his  genius  for  intrigue.     "Is  there,"  said  he 
through  Sartnie  then  the  head  of  the  police,  "  anythi'ng  which 
the  kmg  wishes  to  know  alone  and  at  once,  anyth  no-  v4ich  he 
wishes  done  quickly  and  secretly,  here  am  I,iho  lave  a  hi 
service  a  head,  a  heart,  arms,  and  no  tongue  " 

The  sovereign  of  Spain,  on  wishing  his  kinsman  ioy  of  his 
accession  reminded  him,  as  the  head  of  the  Bourbon    of  their 
doubb  relationship  by  his  mother's  side,  as  well  as  his'fotW 
and  expressed  the  wish  for  -  their  closest  union  and   mos 
perfect  harmony;"  for,  said  he,  "the  family  compact  isTe 
guarantee  of  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  our  house.'' 

The     London  Court  Gazette"  announced  Louis  XYL  as 
'king  of  I  ranee,"  though  English  official  language  hereto- 
fore,  and  tne  herald's  office  still  knew  no  other  khigff  ^^ 
than  the  king  of  Great  Britain. 

At  the  same  time,  the  British  ministers,  always  jealous  of 
the  Bourbons  kept  spies  to  guess  at  the  secrets  of  the  French 
muiisters,  and  bribe  workmen  in  their  navy-yards  for  a  report 


'*.*»i* 

.^-■■•J 


1774.       MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CHARTER.  39 

of  every  keel  tliat  M-as  laid,  of  every  new  armamc  :it  or  re- 
enforcement  of  t]ie  nsual  fleets;  and,  from  appreh.Misions  of 
interference  wliich  could  not  be  lulled  to  sleep,  they  were 
impelled  to  force  the  American  struggle  to  an  immediate  issue 
I  he  contmuance   of  the  cordial  understanding  between 
Britain  and  France  Avould  depend  upon  the  pei-sons  in  whom 
tJie  young  king  should  place  liis  confidence.    Conforming  to  the 
public  wish,  he  began  by  dismissing  the  ministers  of  his  pre- 
decessor, and  then  felt  the  need  of  a  guide.    Mario  Antoinette 
would  have  recalled  Choiseul,  the  supporter  of  an  intimate 
fnendslup  between  France  and  Austria,  the  passionate  adver- 
sary of  England,  the  prophet  and  the  favorer  of  American  in- 
dependence ;  but  tilial  respect  restrained  the  king,  for  Choiseul 
had  been  at  variance  with  his  father.     He  turned  to  his  aunts 
for  advice ;  and  their  choice  fell  on  the  Count  de  Maurepas 
from  their  regard  for  his  experience,  general  good  character, 
and  indepejidence  of  the  parties  at  court. 

IS^ot  clescended  from  the  old  nobility,  Maurepas  belonged 
to  a  family  which,  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  had  fur- 
nished nine  secretaries  of  state.     He  came  into  office  in  the 
ast  days  of  Louis  XIV.     Under  the  successor  of  that  monarch 
he  made  it  his  glory  to  restore  the  navy  of  his  countiy,  and 

W  n  r"r  '  "^  ^'^"^  ^"^'"^^-     ^'^"'^^g'^  '^'-^y^  -t  Paris 
foieto  d  for  1  ranee  a  great  part  if  he  ever  should  be  intrusted 

with  the  government.     At  the  age  of  seventy-three,  and  after 
an  exile  from  the  court  of  twenty-five  years,  he  was  still,  as  he 
hadbeen  in  youth,  polite,  selfish,  jealous,  and  superficial      De- 
spising gravity  of  manner  and  airs  of  mystery,  and  incapable 
of  serious  passion  or  profound  reflection,  he  charmed  by  the 
courtesy  and  ease  of  his  conversation,  enjoying  the  present 
moment  careless  of  the  future  M-hich  he  was'norto  share  a'd 
taking  all  things  so  easily  that  age  did  not  wear  him  out      Full 
of  petty  artifice  in  attack,  of  sly  dexterity  in  defence,  h^  could 
put  aside  weighty  objections   by  mirth,  and   laugh  even  at 
merit,  having  no  faith  in  virtues  that  were  diftladt.     AVith 
all  the  patronage  of  France  in  his  gift,  he  took  from  the  treas- 
ury only  enough  to  meet  his  increased  expenses,  keeping  house 
with  ^eJ-ordered  simplicity,  and  at  his  death  leavi!ig  neither 
debts  nor  savings.     Present  tranciuiility  w.is  his  object,  rathe 


I 
If 


?} 


r 


iH 


40  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


than  lionor 


EP.  III. ;  en.  m. 


wiUin-  thaf  °  n       "  f  ™«<>"'-    IIo  ™  liberal,  and 

ri  kofb  '  °,  '"'"'".fxl  *"W  prevail,  but  not  a  the 
rak  of  b,«  tendency  w,tb  tbo  ling.  A  jealousy  of  superior 
talents  wa.  b,r  ouly  ever  wakeful  passion.  To  foreign  amW 
»adors  he  paid  the  attentions  claimed  by  their  statioTbut  tto 
r  rZ-     '"''  he  lavished  with  gra/eful  levity  b::^  auelL 

to  gain  the  r.ght  of  eharguig  him  seriously  m  ith  duplicity  To 
men  of  every  condition  ho  never  forgot  to  showdoe  L,ri 
d.sgu,s,ng  his  unfailing  d,fe,,„,,  t„-,.„„|^  fToerm T re 
mark  and  gayoty.  His  administration  was  stn-e  to  be  w  df  f"r 
It  was  b.s  nu,.xim  never  to  bold  out  against  any  oneXhad 
power  enough  to  be  formidable,  and  hS  wishedrpte  al  ke 

paers,    bo»o  „bo  st.ckled  for  the  king's  absolute  sway  and 
«  ose  who  clan,or„l  for  the  restoration  of  parliamcnr  thie 

who%™;edlr"'"  ™^r*"=''"''  ^"S"  "-S  those 
wno  labored  Iier  insurgent  colonies.    Louis  XVI  was  lool'ina. 

"n^-aX'rr'  """"'  ^"^  '°  "»■•-'  W-wa    nfef 
man '  1  w  "P°"  "  «'<^"-"»>'""<=d,  complacent  old  gentle- 

man who  bad  the  same  fault  with  himself.  ® 

net  selected*^!"  ■'''P^''^^"''  ^I^"''^?'^.  "'  the  head  of  the  eabi- 
net,  selected  h,s  own  associates,  choosing  men  by  whom  ho 
feared  nether  to  be  superseded  nor  eclipsed.    To  the  Count 
de  Yergennes  was  assigned  the  department  of  foreign  affZ 
The  veteran  statesman,  then  Mtysevcn  years  old  Z  of  1 
be.an  or,g,n,  and  married  to  a  plebeian    nnsup,„r^cd  by^t 

Di  on     thf"'  !'t  ^'J"  P'-o^iJ'--"  of  the  parliament  at 
.f  matlTrntCC^ZctSd  Z^' t  LI 

Indefatio-ablv  I,  !!■  ^     ^         ™°'''  """^  «'''''""  *lf-control. 

thinkinglibe'aTand  b/,       >  r^'"'  ™  ''™' '"*  ™'^<'  °* 
men     iri!  •  ™'  '°  surround  himself  with  able 

always    n  I.  sltrSald  t         '  ^<'™<>  » -»k  king,  be  was 
0-     n  ins  guaid,  and  to  give  a  categorical  answer  was  bis 


111  ill 


1774.       MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CHARTER.  4^ 

aversion.  Like  nearly  every  Frenchman  of  that  day  he  waa 
thoroughly  a  monarchist;  and  he  gained  at  once,  and  ever  re 
tamed  the  good  opinion  of  Louis  XVL  Eleven  years  before 
he  liad  predicted  that  the  conquest  of  Canada  would  hasten 
•  the  mdependence  of  British  America,  and  he  was  now  from 
vantage-ground  to  watch  his  prophecy  come  true 

The  philosophers  of  the  day,  hke  the  king,  wished  the 
happiness  of  the  people,  and  public  opinion  required  that  they 
should  be  represented  in  the  cabinet.     Maurepas  complied. 
Malesherbes  received  the  department  of  Paris  and  the  police 
of  tlie  kingdom.     The  ministry  of  the  marine  was  conferred 
on  lurgot  whose  name  was  as  yet  little  known  at  Paris,  and 
whose  artlessness  made  him  even  a  less  dangerous  rival  than 
Yergennes.     Coming  forward  in  the  purity  of  studious  phi- 
losophy to  take  pari;  in   active  life,  he  was  well-informed, 
amiable    and  of  a  taste  the  most  delicate  and  sure;  austere 
yet  holding  It  to  be  every  man's  business  to  solace  those  who 
suffer;   wishing  the  accomplishment   of  good,  not  his  own 
glory  m  doing  it.     For  him  the  human  race  was  one  great 
family  under  a  common  Father;  always,  through  calm  and 
through  "agitations,"  through  good  and  through  ill,  through 
sorrow  and  through  joy,  on  the  march,  though  at  "a  slow 
step,    toward  a_  greater  perfection.     In  five  weeks  he  so  won 
upon  his  sovereign's  good-will  that  he  was  transferred  to  the 
ministry  of  finance.     This  was  the  wish  of  all  the  philosophers 
of  A lenibert  Condorcet,  Bailly,  La  Earpe,  Marmontel,  Thomas, 
Condillac,  Morel  let,  and  Voltaire.    Kor  of  them  alone.     "  Turl 

he'd  ^"'p^^^^^^t^-^;^^  ^  «^e  heari  of  L'Hopital  and  the 
head  of  Bacon.'  His  candor,  moreover,  gave  him  clear- 
sightedness and  distinctness  of  purpose;  his' hopefulness  ;  m- 
s  d  to  bear  him  serenely  through  the  bitter  warfare  with 
selfish  passions.    At  a  moment  M'lien  everybody  confessed  that 

man  who  m  a  libertine  age  joined  unquestioned  probity  to 
comprehensive  intelligence  and  administrltive  experience.  "^ It 
Ins  accession,  the  cry  of  joy  broke  from  Yolta  re :  "A  new 
worid  IS  about  to  bloom." 

In  France,  the  peasants  were  poor  and  ignorant,  but,  like  all 


:  ( 

■  4 


it 
If 


4a 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


I  n  >l 


mn 


KP.  HI. ;  en.  III. 
80  tor  lialf  a  thonsuid  years.     I„  ,„any  parts  of  the  Wnmlo.n 

they  hllod  Ihe  dofcice  of  the  country  had  passed  from  the 
Iving  and  Im  peora  with  their  vassals  to  the  ki,,.  „„<,  {^° 
stamhng  „r,„y.  WitI,  the  decay  of  the  fondal  s,"sl  ,„  Z 
nohIcsso„ght  service  in  his  pay;  their  vassals  hecatne  ';" 

The  noh,l„y    elainn-ng  for  themselves  exemptions  Zm 

axafon  winch  of  old  belonged  to  them  in  retnrn  L  thei rX 

fence  of  the  kingdom,  gave  „p  none  of  their  claims  oT  the 

peasants  who  were  crashed  nnder  a  complicated  system  of  irrt 

decmahlednes  to  roads  and  canals;  to  the  hakel  onse  and  ho 

nSr;rit;i""'t''V"'' •'""'"■'  '"'---P-s  and  S 
mill ,  to  his  tolls  at  the  river,  the  market,  or  the  fair  •  to 

g.-onnd-rents  and  qnit-rcnts  and  fines  on  alien,  tion.    But  the  e 

existed  no  harmonizing  of  the  contrasts  between  p  liw 

sad  and  ap.irt;  bereft  of  mterconrse  with  superior  culture- 
never  mirthful  but  in  mockery  of  misery;  „Jt  eared  frn' 
th  ir  want:,  nor  solaced  in  hospitals,  nor  visited  in  prisons 
The  amiual  p„hhc  expenditures  largely  exceeding  the  r  vcime 
the  nobihty  sntiered  the  monarch  to  impose  tax^s  on  tl  e  „n 
privileged  classes  at  his  will.     The  imposts,  which  in  t„o  cen- 
turies had  increa.sed  tenfold,  fell  almost  exclusivclv  on  the 

empoyed  by  the  government;  regarding  the  monarch  with 

the  po«  er  th.at  h.arried  them ;  ralcd  as  though  ioy  were  no  fit 
eomp.ani„n  for  labor;  as  though  wan-,  were  the  «r;  goad 
to  mdustry,  and  soi-row  the  only  g..ia™ntec  of  quiet.  They 
were  the  strength  of  the  kingdom,  the  untiring  prodncers  of  ite 
weal  h,  he  source  of  supply  of  its  annic.^,  tl^'chief  Co,  Wbu 

tt?  t?  :V''"}  "r"-'  ""'  >'''  ^»  f'"-'""'  ™  "'0-  coid  - 

*;  oins'  '■""■"'"'  '"''■'"' » *'»  ™'» "' » ''"I'p'-  f"'- 

Out  of  this  s.ad  state  Turgot  undertook  to  lift  Iiis  country 
by  peace,  order,  and  economy.     "  It  is  to  yon  personally  "  said 

than  to  the  king,  tli.at  I  give  myself  up.    You  have  confided 


1774.       MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CHARTER.  43 

to  me  the  happiness  of  your  people,  and  tlio  care  of  making 
you  and  your  authority  beloved ;  but  I  shall  have  to  combat 
those  who  gain  by  abuses,  the  prejudices  against  all  reform 
the  majority  of  the  court,  and  every  solicitor  of  favors  I  shall 
sacrifice  myself  for  the  people;  but  I  may  incur  even  their 
hatred  by  the  very  ineasures  I  shall  take  to  prevent  their  dis 
tress."  "Have  no  fear,"  said  the  king,  pressing  the  hand  of 
his  new  comptroller-general ;  "  I  shall  always  support  you  » 

The  policy  of  Turgot  implied  a  continuance  of  peace  •  yet 
the  distrust  of  England,  as  an  ever  vigilant  and  unscrupulous 
nv.d  which  m  1755  had  begun  hostihties  without  notice  and 
at  the  end  of  the  war  had  stripped  France  of  its  best  acquisi- 
tions m  America  and  Iliiidostan,  could  not  be  hushed.  French 
statesmen,  therefore,  bent  the  ear  to  catch  the  earliest  surgingg 
of  American  discontent ;  and  they  obsei-ved  of  the  instructions 
from  the  convention  of  Virginia  to  its  delegates  in  the  conti- 
nental congress  :  -  They  are  the  first  which  propose  to  restnxiu 
force''       "''''^'*'*'"  ^*'^^^'  ^^  g^^'^  P^^^^gcs  to  resist  force  by 

On  Saturday,  the  sixth  of  August,  Gage  received  an  official 
eopy  of  the  act  of  parliament  "for  the  better  regulating  the 
province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay."     It  was,  on  the  side  of 
Great  Bntam,  aggressive  and  revolutionary ;  it  had  been  strenu- 
ously resis  ed  and  was  utterly  condemned  by  the  Whig  party 
0   EngW     That  the  memory  of  their  resLnce  mif hfn  ^ 
per.h,  Rockingham  and  his  friends  had  placed  on  the  Lords 
of  the  house  of  lords  their  protest  against  the  act.     They  con- 
demned It  "because,"  said  they,  "a  definitive  legal  offen^ce  by 
which  a  for  eitureof  the  charter  is   incurred,  has  not  been 
clearly  stated  and  fully  proved ;  neither  has  nolice  of  this  ad 

have  they  been  heard  in  their  own  defence;  and  because  the 
governor  and  council  are  intrusted  with  p'owers  X  h  b 
the  British  constitution  has  not  trusted  his  majesty  and  privy 
c  unci,  so  thaf  the  ives  and  properties  of  the  sibjJcts  are'  ^i' 
mto  their  hands  without  control."  ^ 

The  principle  of  the  statute  was  the  concentration  of  all 
of  thl^'vT"'  including  the  courts  of  justice,  in  the  l.jl 
of  the  .  uj  al  governor.     ^^  ithout  previous  notice  to  Massachu- 


fli 


l<; 


if 


44 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  cii.  m. 


:^^ii 


setts  and  without  a  1. 


tool 


,  .  .     ,  ,     ^  l.canng,  it  took  away  riglits  and  liberties 

wlucli  the  people  had  enjoyed  from  the  foundation  of  the  col- 
ony,  except  in  the  evil  days  of  James  11,  and  which  had  been 
renewed  m  the  charter  from  William  and  Mary.     That  charter 
was  coeval  with  the  great  English  revolution,  had  been  the 
organic  law  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts  for  more  than  eighty 
years,  and  was  associated  in  their  minds  with  every  idea  of 
ii^nglish  liberty  and  every  sentiment  of  loyalty  to  the  English 
crown.     Under  its  provisions,  the  councillors,  twenty-eight  in 
number   had  been  annually  chosen  by  a  convention   of  the 
council  for  the  former  year  and  the  assembly,  subject  only  to 
the  negative  of  the  governor;  henceforward  they  were  to  be 
notless  than  twelve  nor  more  than  thirty-six,  were  to  derive 
tJieir  appointments  and  their  emoluments  from  the  king  and 
to  be  removable  at  his  pleasure.    The  governor  received  author- 
1  y,  without  consulting  his  council,  to  appoint  and  to  remove 
all  judges  of  the  inferior  courts,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  all 
officers  belonging   to  the  council  and  the  courts  of  justice 
The  governor  and  council  might  change  the  sheriffs  as  often 
as  tliey  pleased      In  case  of  a  vacancy,  the  governor  was  to  ap- 
point the  cliief  justice  and  judges  of  the  superior  court,  who 
were  to  ho  d  their  commissions  during  .he  pleasure  of  the  king 
and  depend  on  his  good-will  for  the  amount  and  the  pav^nent 
of  their  sakines.     The    .ght  of  selecting  juries  was  taken  from 
the  inhabitants  and  freeholders  of  the  towns,  and  conferred 
on  the  sheriffs  of  the  several  counties  witbin  the  province, 
liiis  regulating  act,  moreover,  uprooted  the  dearest  institution 
of  JNew  England,  whose  people,  from  the  first  settlement  of 
tlie  country,  had  been  accustomed  in  their  town-meetings  to 
transact  all  business  that  touched  them  most  nearly  as  fathers 
as  freemen,  and  as  Christians.     There  they  adopted  local  taxes 
to  keep  up  their  free  schools ;  there  they  regulated  the  mu- 
nicipal concerns  of  the  year;  there  they  chose  \heir  representa- 
tives and  instructed  them ;  and,  as  the  limits  of  the  parish  and 
the  town   were  usually  the  same,  there  most  of  them  took 
measures  for  the  settlement  of  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  their 
congregations ;  there  they  were  accustomed  to  express  their 
sentiments  on  any  subject  comiected  with  their  interests,  rights 
liberties,  or  religion.     The  regulatmg  act,  sweeping  awav  th« 


111 


im.       MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CIIAUTEK.  45 

provincial  law  which  had  received  tlie  ajiproval  of  William  and 
Mary,  permitted  two  meetings  anniially,  in  which  town  olHeers 
and  representatives  might  be  chosen,  but  no  other  matter  be 
introduced  ;  every  other  assembling  of  a  town  was  forbidden 
except  by  the  written  leave  of  the  governor,  and  then  only  for 
business  expressed  in  that  leave.     The  king  trampled  under 
foot  the  customs,  laws,  and  privileges  of  the  people  of  lilassa- 
chusetts.     He  was  willing  to  spare  them  an  explicit  consent  to 
the  power  of  parliament  in  all  cases  whatever ;  but  he  required 
jH-oof  that  Boston  had  compensated  the  East  India  company 
that  tiie  tax  on  tea  could  be  safely  collected,  and  that  the  prov- 
mce  would  peacefully  acquiesce  in  the  change  of  its  charter. 

With  the  regulating  act.  Gage  received  copies  of  two  other 
acts,  designed  to  facilitate  its  enforcement.  By  one  of  them 
he  was  authorized  to  quarter  his  arjuy  in  towns ;  by  the  other 
to  transfer  to  another  colony  or  to  Great  Britain  any  persons 
informed  agamst  or  indicted  for  crimes  committed  in  support- 
ing the  revenue  laws  or  suppressing  riots. 

_  The  regulating  act  went  into  effect  on  the  moment  of  its 
bemg  received,  and  precipitated  the  choice  between  submisgion 
and  resistance.     Within  a  week,  eleven  of  the  mandanms  coun- 
cillors took  the  oath  of  office,  and  were  followed  in  a  few  days 
by  fourteen  more.   They  were  persuaded  that  the  province  could 
by  no  possibility  hold  out,  and  that  the  promise  of  assistance 
from  other  colonies  was  a  delusion.    No  assembly  existed  in  the 
province  to  remonstrate  ;  and  Gage  might  delay  or  \vholly  omit 
to  send  out  writs  for  a  new  election.     But  a  people  who  were 
trained  to  read  and  write;  to  discuss  all  political  questions 
privately  and  in  public;  to  strive  to  exhibit  in  their  lives  the 
Christian  system  of  ethics,  the  beauty  of  holiness,  and  the  un- 
seihsh  nature  of  virtue ;  to  reason  on  the  great  ends  of  God 
m  creation;  to  believe  in  their  own  immortality;  and  to  ven- 
erate their  ancestry  as  above  all  others  pure,  enlightened,  and 
tree-could  never  forego  the  civil  rights  which  were  their  most 
cherished  inheritance. 

"Being  stationed  by  Providence  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
conflict,  such  was  the  letter  of  the  committee  of  Boston  to 
ai  the  other  towns  in  the  province,  "we  trust  wc  shall  not  be 
lelt  by  heaven  to  do  anything  derogatory  to  our  common  lib. 


a 


46 


f   if 

!'     I'd 

}     '! 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


El'.  III. ;  cii.  HI. 


erties,  unworthy  of  the  fame  of  our  ancestor.,  or  incon.i.stent 
with  our  fonuer  professions.  Thou^^li  surrounded  with  a  largo 
.ody  of  anned  men,  who,  having  the  sword,  have  also  our 
blood  in  their  hand,.,  wo  are  yet  undaunted.  To  you  our 
brethren  and  dear  companions  in  the  cause  of  God,  we  awlv 
Iromyou  wo  have  received  that  countenance  and  aid  which 
luivestrcngtliened  our  hands,  and  that  bounty  wiiich  hath  oc 
casioned  smiles  on  the  face  of  distress.  To  you,  therefore,  wo 
look  for  that  advice  and  example  which,  with  the  blessing  of 
t-Toa,  sliall  save  us  from  destruction." 

The  earnest  message  was  borne  to  the  northern  border  of 
the  provmce,  where  the  brooks  run  to  the  Nashua,  and  the 
upland  farms  yielded  but  scanty  returns  to  the  hardest  toil. 
The  husbandmen  in  that  region  had  already  sent  many  loads 
of  rye  to  the  poor  of  Boston.     In  the  coming  storm  they  clus- 
tered  round  Wdham  Prescott  of  Pepperell,  who  stood  as  firm 
as  Monadnock  that  rose  in  sight  of  his  homestead  ;  and,  on 
the  day  after  the  first  mandamus  councillors  took  their  oath  of 
ofhce,  his  townsmen  put  their  soul  into  his  words  as  he  wrote 
for  them  to  the  men  of  Boston:  "Be  not  dismayed  nor  dis- 
heartened m  this  day  of  great  trials.     We  heartily  sympathize 
with  you,  and  are  always  ready  to  do  all  in  our  power  for  your 
support,   coiufort,  and  relief,  knowing  that  Providence   has 
placed  you  where  you  must  stand  the  first  shock.    We  consider 
we  are  all  embarked  in  one  bottom,  and  must  sink  or  swim  to- 
gether.     We  think,  if  we  submit  to  these  regulations,  all  is 
gone      Our  forefathers  passed  the  vast  Atlantic,  spent  their 
b  ood  and    reasure  that  they  might  enjoy  their  liberties,  both 
c  V  1  and  religious,  and  transmit  them  to  their  posterity.    Their 
clii  dren  have  u.ided  through  seas  of  difficulty,  to  leave  us  free 
and  happy  ni  the  enjoyment  of  English  privileges.    Now  if 
we  should  give  them  up,  can  our  children  rise  up  and  call 'us 
blessed      Is  a  glorious  death  in  defence  of  our  liberties  better 
han  a  short  infamous  life,  and  our  memories  to  l)e  had  in  do- 
tes ation  to  the  latest  posterity?     Let  us  all  be  of  one  heart, 
and  stand  fast  m  the  liberties  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us 

ouTof?ifn™T     n'^i"'  "^^"'"  mercy  grant  us  deliverance 
out  ot  all  our  troubles." 

Everywhere  the  rural  population  of  Massachusetts   were 


"I. ;  cii,  nr. 


1774.       MASSACriDSETTS  MAINTAINS  IT8  CHARTER.  47 

weighiri-  the  issues  in  wliidi  thoy  wcro   involved,  an<l  one 
spirit  moved  tiirougli  tlieni  all.     From  the  hills  of  Uerkshire 
to  the  Penobscot  they  debated  the  great  question  of  resistance 
as  though  God  were  hearkening;  and  they  took  counsel  rever- 
ently with  their  ministers,  and  the  aged,  the  pious,  and  the 
orave  in  their  villages.      Adjoining  towns  held  conferences. 
1  Jie  shire  of  \\  orcester,  in  August,  set  the  example  of  a  countv 
congress,  which  disclaimed  the  jurisdiction  of  the  British  house 
of  commons,  asserted  the  exclusive  right  of  the  colonies  to 
originate  their  laws,  rested  their  duty  of  allegiance  on  the  char- 
ter of  the  province,  and  declared  the  violation  of  that  charter  a 
dissolution  of  their  union  with  Britain. 

Thoinas  Gardner,  of  Cambridge,  promised  a  like  conven- 
tion  ot  the  county  of  Middlesex.  "  Friends  and  brethren,"  he 
AVTote  to  Loston,  as  if  at  once  to  allay  its  anxiety  and  prophesy 
us  own  approaching  end,  "  the  time  is  come  that  everv  one 
that  has  a  tongue  and  an  arm  is  called  upon  by  his  country  to 
stand  forth  in  its  behalf.  I  consider  the  call  as  the  call  of  God 
and  desire  to  be  all  obedience.  The  people  will  choose  rathe; 
to  fan  gloriously  in  the  cause  of  their  country  than  meanly 
submit  to  slavery."  ^ 

After  searching  the  rolls  of  the  several  towns,  the  patricfs 
estimated  the  population  of  the  province  at  four  hundred  thou- 
sand souls;  the  number  of  men  between  sixteen  and  sixty 
years  of  age  at  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand,  most 
of  whom  possessed  arms,  and  were  expert  in  their  use.  Burino. 
he  summer  the  drum  and  fife  were  heard  in  every  hamlet,  and 
the  companies  paraded  for  discipline.  One  day  in  August, 
Gage  revoked  Hancock's  commission  in  the  Boston   cadets, 

dTsbanded  ''^'"^'''''^  '"""^  ^"^  ^""^  ^^"^  ^''"^''  '^^"^'''^  ^^^ 

Israel  Putnam,  of  Connecticut,  the  oracle  of  aU  patriot  cir- 
cles m  lus  neighborhood,  drove  before  him  to  Boston  one  hun- 

fayonte     The  oflicers  whom  he  visited  on  Boston  common 

the  r  Z  "'''  '"''''''^  '^"^^'^  ''  ^'S^''-  "  Twenty  ships  of 
the  line  and  twenty  regiments," said  Major  Small,  "may  be  ex- 
pected  from  Enp-lnnd  171  ^o--.  o    ,  1      •    ■       .  '     ""v  ut.  ca 

f        -   -  -i-i  x^ngiana  in  ca^jc  a  submissicu  is  not  speedily  mad© 


ki 


I  ! 


48  Am:iiW\  AI:MS   vnn  SKLF  I)KFKX(,k.      ,v.  ,„.;  m.  m. 

!•>■  IJost.'n."     ••  If  tlH-y  (.„„.,"  .ai.l  the  votomn,  "  I  a.n  n-u.Iy 
to  treat  tliciri  as  <Mu>iiiit>.s."  "^ 

Tlu.  ^mmin^.  excif.nu.nt  nttrach..!  t.  N.u-  I.:„o.|,,„|  ( .,,„,,,s 
LocN  a  restless  ojluvrulu.,  fn.,n  having,  been  ui<le.le-ca,n,>  t., 
;-  l-.,M,t  I  ,la.Kl,l.a<I  the  titular  rank  of  u  n.ajor-^.eneral. 
I  MS  eawM,  wluel.  ^,y.  I.i.u  premlenee  over  M\yL  woro 
I.ko  y  to  draw  the  Hword  for  An.eriea,  was,  on  oeeasion  of  his 
vjs.t,  .nuversally  aeknowle.l.e.l.  IK,  pn.fesse.l  to  «„>  in  tho 
New  K„.Ia„,l  yeo.nanry  the  I.est  materials  f„r  a„  nnnv,  and 
paid  eourt  to  the  patriots  of  Massachusi-tts. 

Meantime,  the  ,lelen:ates  of  Massaelaiselts  to  (he  Ln>„,rul 

.onoress  were  eseorted  I.y  ,reat  n.nnhers  as  far  as  Wat^rtown, 

^^-ro  n,an.y_had  ^..thered  to  hi<l  llu.n  a  solen.n  farewell.     On 

ho      onneet.cnt  r.ver  the.y  reeeivcl  a  k-tler  of  advieo   fron. 

^^^nn.    7n'V"'"'' '''  ^•^'•^'-"I>ton,  whose  w<M-ds  were  : 
U  n  n.t  l,o  ,    ,t   wo  eannot  otherwise  rid  ourselves  of  Krit- 
it;-  ^"'"  '^  ^-vernnu.nt,  enaeted  for  us  by  the 

Hi.tish  parhament  ,s  ov.l  n..,inst  ri^ht,  utterly  intoleralile  to 
every  nmn  who  has  any  idea  or  f.-elin,.  of  ri.d.t  or  liberty 
Ihcro  19  not  heat  enou.h  yet  for  battle;  eonstantand  ne^ati^l. 
resistance  wdhnereuso  it.     There  is  not  n.ilitary  skill  enou.^h  • 

tX'TT^'v'-."'^  ""*  '^'  eneoura^ed.  Fight  we  unrsl 
linall>,  unless  I.nta.n  rc'treats.  Our  salvation  depends  upon  a 
persevenn.  un.,>n.  Every  grievance  of  any  one  colony  n.nst 
be  lield  as  a  gnevanee  to  the  whole,  and  some  ]>lan  be  settled 
for  a  contnmatton  of  congresses,  even  (hough  congresses  will 
soon  be  declared  by  jwlianient  to  be  high  treason  '' 

Ilawley  spoke  the   sentiments  of   western  Massachusetts. 
AMien,  on  1  uesday,  tho  sixteenth  of  August,  the  judges  of  the 
jnfenor  court  of  iran.pshire  n,et  at  (ireat  JJarringt^n,  it  w 
known  that  the  regulating  act  had  received  the  ro^A  ajlnro    f 

a  dhvc  hundred  men  fron,  Connecticut,  anned  with  clul«  an<l 
stues.  Suifenng  the  royal  courts  of  justice  to  sit  seemed  a 
recogmt.on  o  the  act  of  parliament,  and  the  chief  judge  was 
forced  to  phght  his  honor  that  he  and  his  associates  wcndd  da 
no  busmess.  On  tho  rumor  that  (iage  meditated  employing  a 
part  ot  Ins  army  to  execute  tl,o  new  statute-  at  Worcester,  the 
Inhabitants  of  that  town  prepared  arms,  muskct-balls,  and  pow- 


1774. 


MASSACIIlTsm-S  MAINTAINS   ITS  OIIAUTKU. 


40 

il::,:;:!,::::;:;;;; "' >  ''">■  •"  -'■"™  »'-> 

of  iT!l'(k.'M 'iw',','", ';""""'"""  '"■"■"' '" "-'"'  "■••'>■•  "■■■Hi-"". 

or  ll.„l„.|,l,  ,  .  „,,,!  I„ „,.,v,-h,i„  ,-ui„  l.v  ,™.|„i„);  l,iH  ,,„„ 

""7"";  -;'"' "  "■""■"o' "f  si.n„„,ic.i,i.  Ti.,„;  wJI 

<-C|>lcv|  ,|;||-,.,|   M.,r  jrivi,  ,|,|vic-|..  "^ 

ilost.m  l,H,l  u  („wn.,„™ii„s.     (i„Ku  n.M,i„,l,,|  tl,o  «.„.ct- 

;;;;;•;;;'  ""■ "- "  i-n^-.-.-,  .-.•!,•«„«  tow,,.,,,.,  «„„;». 
u  «,».,.,■„,„,  c,,v...  "  It  i,  „„i,  ,.„  ,„ij„„,„„,  „,^     ; 

tlu,  s.l,.,-l„„.,,     "  11,.  .,,,,1,  „„„„.■  „,,,,,  ,,,         „  '         « 

.yon,-  „„..„„,.  „Hv„  ,1,,.,.  ,.,„ ,.,,,,.  „„  ,;,;„,,„  J,  ™'^„^;^' 

•";.l  "1.0..M  b.  .vfeMv,!  to  the  ,■,,,„.„  1»„.v,.,k'.     j,„  is 
uo  s»  trruu.        If  j-„i,  v„l„u  .your  lilV,  1  ,„|,.i„,,  ,,„,  „„f 

noxt  ,lay  „   noon,  AV.„1„,.  „f  Tnoplotou  ,„„l  Il.,l,k,,  on'v),;  ■ 

JNo  consequences,"  thev  ronli.Tl    u  ....  i        <•  ,     ^*^i"ray. 

DCODle  ■..  fl..,f  ,.^  1    •         "^  ;cr'i^'«.     are  so  dreadful  to  a  free 
people  a.  tJiat  of  being  made  slaves."     ''  Tliis  "  wrofe  l.o  + . 
brother,  "i^  nnf  fl.o  i  ,.    ,  '    ^^^'^te  Jie  to  las 

VOL.  IV.--4  "  ^^-umta  tiic  fairest  character  ai-e 


i  ^»i 


J, 


lilSI 


(:;, 


60  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR   SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  in. ;  en.  iii. 


the  wannest  in  tliis  matter ;  and,  amon":  tlio  many  friends  jou 
liave  lieret(ji'()rc  liad,  I  can  scarcely  mention  anv  to  jou  now." 
One  eveninn^  in  An-^niBt  tlie  farmers  of  Union,  ili  (,\mnecti- 
cut,  fonnd  Abijali  AVillai-d,  of  Lancaster,  ]\rassaclnisetts,  within 
their  precinct.  They  kept  watch  over  him  (hiring  the  nigiit, 
and  tlie  next  morniiiiv  Mould  liave  taken  him  to  the  county 
jail ;  ])T;t,  after  a  march  of  six  miles,  he  begf^e' ■  forgiveness  of 
all  honi'st  men  for  having  taken  tlie  oath  of'  otfice,  and  prom- 
ised never  to  sit  or  act  in  council. 

The  people  of  Plymouth  were  grieved  that  George  Watson, 
their  respected  toMTisman,  was  v,  illing  to  act  imder  llis  appoint- 
ment. On  the  lirst  Lord's  day  after  his  purpose  was  known, 
as  soon  as  he  took  his  seat  in  meeting,  dressed  in  the  scarlet 
cloak  whicli  was  his  wonted  Sunday  attire,  his  neighl)ors  and 
friends  put  on  tlieir  liats  before  the  congi'egation  and  walked 
out  of  the  liouse.  The  iniblic  indignity  was  more  than  lie 
could^  beai-.  As  they  passed  his  pew  he  hid  liis  face  by  bend- 
i.;g  his  bald  liead  over  his  cane,  and  determined  to  resign.  Of 
tliirty-six  who  received  the  king  s  summons  as  ccunciUors,  more 
than  twenty  declhiedtooboy  them,  or  revoked  their  acceptance. 
Tlic  rest  fled  in  terror  lo  the  army  at  JJoston,  and  even  there 
coukl  not  hide  tlieir  sense  of  slianie. 

The  congressional  delegates  from  ]\rassachusetts,  consecrated 
by  their  office  as  her  suppliant  ambassadors  in  the  day  of  her 
distress,  were  welcomed  everywhere  on  their  journev  with  hos- 
pitable foiusts  and  t(>ars  of  symi)athy.     The  men  of  ILirtford, 
after  giving  pledges  to  abide  by  the  resolutions  of  the  cono-ress' 
accom])anied  them  to  Middletown,  from  which  place  they  were 
escorted  by  carnages  and  a  cavalcade.      The  bells  of  New 
Haven  were  set  ringing  as  they  drew  near,  and  those  who  had 
not  gone  out  to  meet  them  thronged  the  windows  and  doors  to 
gaze.     There  they  were  encouraged  bv  R..g(>r  Shennan,  whom 
sobd  sense  and  the  power  of  clear  analvsis  were  to  constitute 
one  of  the  master  builders  of  our  republic.     "  The  parliament 
of  Great  Britain,"  said   he,   "can   riohtfuHy  make  laws  for 
Amenca  in  710  case  whatever."     Simnltaneouslv,  James  Wil- 
son  m  Philadelphia,  a  Scot  by  birth,  of  rare'  ability,  who, 
having  been  bred  in  the  universities  of  his  native  laiid,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  early  manhood,  and  Jelfeivou  in  Yir 


in. ;  ciT.  III. 

■ionds  jou 
)u  now." 
Coiinecti- 
ts,  within 
the  nig] it, 
ic  county 
ivcncsH  of 
v.d  proiii- 

^  "Watson, 
;  appoint- 
s  Icnown, 
10  (JCiirlot 
ibors  and 
(1  walked 
than  lie 
l)y  1)011(1- 
■<ign.  Of 
Oi'n,  more 
r'C2)tanco. 
■en  there 

isccratcd 
ly  of  her 
tvith  hos- 
lartford, 
congress, 
!ioy  were 
of  Xew 
who  liad 
doors  to 
n,  whom 
institute 
I'liamont 
laws  for 
lies  Wil- 
y,  who, 
iid,  oiui- 
in  Vir 


1774. 


MASSACHUSETTS  MAINTAINS  ITS  CHARTER. 


5] 

gini.,  without  a  chance  of  concorr,  p„l>Hshed  the  .ame  onir- 

;     ^'\''^^   ■••  I'-om    an   al.le    investigation  of   "the  natnro 

and  extei.  of  the  h^slative  a.,thorit;of  the  Briti.       f^  ^ 

"o  It.        Jhe  freeholders  <,f  Albemarle  comity,  in  yLZ 

'='^1,  =^  'nonth  earlier,  expressed  the  same  conelusiok  •  and  h  1 1,^ 

..ng...ge  of  Jeffei^on,  claimed  to  hold  the  pr  Xi^^^ 

t-i  from  the  authority  of  every  other  legisIatm:^lLS 

own  as  one  of  the  common  rights  of  mankind. 

Atter  re.tmg  one  night  at  New  Haven,  the  envoys  visited 
the  grave  of  the  regicide  Dixwell.     As  they  reached  the  Ilud 
Bon,   hey  found  that  the  British  nunistry  Ld  faile    to  a  lure" 
o,nmndate,orto  divide  Xew  York.     A  f^dei^^^  "^^ 

its  :;>!::      r  'tI^':^:  --^tm;,  formed  the  aspiration  .f 
;vi  i.  .1,0  crown  of  E„gla,Kl.     The  ,K«il,ilit,.  of  fnZf  an 

Lousl.  I,e  ™  ,,cT,,„uck.,l  ,l,at  tJ,o  separation  of    he  B  S 
eolo„.o.  was  n.evitaUj.  approacl,;,,.,  a,,',,,..!  that  t  "h- 1       ' 

a  M,„K.nt  of  a  confedmcy  of  wKlcl,-  extonjc/tortt   os  a 

oft  '^^•7""""*'  '•"'"^■l"  ""-''■•'■  'l"'  moderating  inti      ,» 

of  .  IX  rma„™t  executive.     That  the  colonies,  if  di^conn  c ted 

ss^'  :''';■""''!  '■''"  '"'"  '''""■'^-  '"•*•-■»-  -"ong     em 
mde  'h  "    '''""I'  ^'""«*'""  °f  Now  Vorlc.  "un  o  , 

c  »M.f„t,o  ,al  r,ghts,  was  still  the  purpose  of  Jav  and  1  i.  int 
n  ,te  assocates.     This  polie,  ,,ad  hrought  all  die   t  g  th"'" 

"-  ".=  most  .agaei":  heS    '"  "''"'^  ""'  "--•  »'  ^-^ 
liefore  Sa.ouei  Ada.us  departed,   he    had    concerted   the 


'.!     if 


52 


AMEPJCxV  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


1 

!  f 
J  ■  J 
■ii  - 

.1 

U 

i:   \m 


Ki'.  III.;  nr. ;  i, 

measures  hy  M-liieh  Suffolk  comity  would  l)e  best  al)le  to  bring 
the  wrongs  of  the  town  iind  tlic  province  before  tlie  general 
congress;  and  he  left  t!ie  direction  with  Warren,  wlio  had  re- 
luctantly become  convinced  that  all  connection  with  the  Ih-itish 
parliament  nmst  bo  thrown  off.     (Since  to\vn-meetings  could 
not  be  called,  on  the  sixteenth  of  August  1774,  a  county  con- 
gress of  the  towns  of  Suffolk,  which  then  embraced  Norfolk, 
met  at  a  tavern  in  the  village  of  Stoughton.     As  the  aged 
Samuel  Dunbar,  the  rigid  Calviuist  mini.^ter  of  its  first  partsh, 
breathed  forth  among  them  his  prayer  for  liberty,  the  vener- 
able man  seeiued  insi)ired  with  "the  most  divine  and  propheti- 
cal enthusiasm;'     "  We  must  stand  undisguised  upon  one  side 
or  the  other,"  said  Thayer  of  IJraintree.     The  members  were 
unamnious  ;  aud,  iu  contempt  of  (Jage  and  the  act  of  i>arlia- 
ment,  they  directed  special  meetings  in  every  town  and  pre- 
cmct  in  the  county,  to  elect  delegates  with  full  powers  to  apj)ear 
at  Dedham  on  the  first  Monday  in  September.     From  such  a 
county  congress   Warren   predicted  "very  important   conse- 
(piences." 

^     On  Friday,  the  twenty-sixth,  the  connnittee  of  lloston  was 
jomed  at  Faneuil  Hall  by  delegites  from  the  several  towns  of 
the  counties  of  Worcester,  Middlesex,  and  Essex;  and  on  the 
next  day,  after  calm  consultation,  they  collectively  denied  the 
power  of  parliament  to  change  the  miimtcst  tittle  of  their  laws 
As  a  consecpicnce,  they  found  that  all  appointments  to  the 
newly  instituted  council,  and  all  authority  exercised  l)y  the 
courts  of  justice,  were  unconstitutional ;  and  therefore  that  the 
officers,  should  they  attempt  to  act,  would  become  «  usurpers  of 
power"  and  enemies  to  the  province,  even  though  they  bore 
the  connnission  of  the  king.     The  Hoston  port  act  they  found 
to  be  a  wicked  violation  of  the  rights  to  life,  libertv,  and  the 
means  of  sustenance,  which  all  nu>n   hold  bv  the  grace  of 
heaven,  irrespectively  of  the  king's  leave.     The  act  of  parlia- 
ment removing  from  American  courts  the  trials  of  officers  who 
should  take  the  lives  of  Americans  they  descri])ed  as  the  ex- 
treme measure  in  the  system  of  despotism. 

For  remedies,  the  convention  pro]iosed  a  provincial  con- 
gi-ess_with  large  executix :  powers.  Tn  the  mean  time  the  un- 
constitutional courts  were  to  be  forbidden  to  proceed,  and  their 


:% 


m 


he  general 
■lio  liiul  re- 
he  British 
ings  could 
onntj  con- 

I  Norfolk, 
the  aged 

r.st  2>arish, 

the  veiier- 

propheti- 

II  one  side 

hers  were 

of  parlla- 

and  pre- 

to  apj)ear 
)m  such  a 
ut  conse- 

Dston  was 
towns  of 
id  on  the 
3nied  the 
^eir  laws. 
;s  to  the 
1  hy  the 
that  the 
irpers  of 
he  J  bore 
iy  found 
and  the 
•;race  of 
f  par]  la- 
sers who 
!  the  ex- 

ial  con- 
the  un- 
id  their 


1774.       MASSACIIUSEITS  MAINTAIXS  ITS   CHARTER.  53 

officers  to  be  detested  as  « traitors  cloaked  with  a  pretext  of 
law.''  A-s  Ciage  had  orders  to  make  arrests,  each  individual 
patriot  was  placed  under  the  protection  of  his  county  and  o+' 
the  province.  The  practice  of  the  military  art  was  declared  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  people. 

Gage  looked  about  him  for  more  troops,  reconnnended  the 
repair  of  Crown  I»oint,  a  strong  garrison  at  Ticonderoga,  a 
well-guarded  line  of  communication  between  :New  York* and 
Canada. 

On  the  same  day  began  the  term  of  the  inferior  court  at 
Spnnglield.     Ikit,  early  in  the  morning,  fifteen  hundred  or 
two  thousand  men,  with  drums  and  trumpets,  marched  into 
that  town,  set  up  a  black  Hag  at  the  court-house,  and  threat- 
ened death  to  any  one  who  should  enter.     After  some  treaty 
the  judges  executed  a  Avrltten  covenant  not  to  put  their  coin- 
missions  in  force ;  Worthhigton  resigned  his  office  of  council- 
lor; those  of  the  lawyers  whc  had  sent  an  address  to  Gao-o 
atoned  for  their  olfence  by  a  written  confession.     Willianis 
the  tory  of  Hatfield,  and  others,  were  compelled  successively 
to  go  round  a  large  circle  and  ask  forgiveness.     Catlin  and 
Warner  fell  upon  their  knees;  old  Captain  Mirreck  of  Mon- 
son  was  dra^vn  in  a  cart  and  threatened  to  be  tarred  and  feath- 
ered.    The  people  agreed  that  the  British  troops,  if  they  should 
march  to  ^^  orcester,  should  be  resisted  by  at  least  t^v•enty  tUo- 
sand  men  from  Hampshire  county  and  Connecticut. 

The  last  Tuesday  of  August  was  the  dav  for  holding  the 
supreme  court  at  Boston.     To  support  Chief  Justice  OHver, 
Gage  came  expressly  from   Salem.      The  day  arrived  •   the 
judges  took  their  seats  and  the  prescribed  proclamations  were 
made.     On  proceeding  to  business,  the  men  who  had  been  re- 
timied  as  jurors,  one  and  all,  refused  to  take  the  oath,  Thomas 
Chase,  who  was  of  the  petit  jury,  giving  as  his  reason  "that 
the  chief  justice  of  the  court  stood  inii.eached  by  the  late  rep- 
resentative^ of  the  province."     A  p.per  offered  by  the  jury 
c  isput.Hl  the  authority  of  the  judges  for  the  further  reasons, 
that  the  charter  of  the  ])rovincc  had  been  changed  with  no 
warrant  but  an  act  of  parlianienf,  and  that  three  of  the  jud-es 
1.1  violation  of  the  constitution,  had  accepted  seats  m  the  uosv 


m 


..:  i 


"'^•^V'-'jiffifiii^-'^i 


I  .\Mi;i;u'.\  AijMs  von  skli'  i.ki'Knck. 


yv.  Ml.  ;  (11.  ni. 


'rii.<  clnrf  jiisli.v  iin.I  ||i,„  (■,,||,.||^.|,cH,  ivpjiiriiiu.  i,,  „  |„mIv  |,» 
III'' v,o\.Tiior,  n«|iiv.s,>ii(.M|  lli(<  iiiipo.wil.ililv  "T  <>N<Mvi,siii^- llirii- 
""i''<'  '">  l!<'.'-i<'ti  »y  ill  Miivolhrr  |):ir(  ..f  ihr  provinc," ;  (iMniniiy 
\v;is  (on  MMiill  r..r  ||„ir  |.r..(i'.'l  ion  ;  mi. I,  l.rsi.lr.M,  iioiit<  wimlil 
'"■'  "  '  j""'"'-'.  'I'll"  iiiillh.rilv  ..r  I  he  nrw  -v.'vrniiiinif,  iim  .-.kImI,. 
Ii'Ih'I  I>v  ;i.'(  ..r  |.!niiiiiii.'ii(.  |)rris|ir.l  in-  ||i,-  |.iv:u'iici>  of  (h,, 
;',<>\i'riioi-,  (ho  jiul;'v.'4,  ;uii|  (li(«  jinnv. 

<iii'':o  .siiiiimoiir.l  Im'm  coiiiiril,  l.iil  oiilv  lo  niorl  now  di  ;ooin 
lilmvN,  |(  i  iiioinl.ois  <I;iro(l  ii.»l  sliow  llioiiisoIv(«s  ;il  S;iloiii,  jind 
111' c'locnlcj  (o  (lioir  \  i,.|;iiii|.|;  (lio  net  of  |>;ii'li;iiii(>nl  l)v  ni('(-(.- 
'".'-  """  l''"'l"".  Ilnloliiiisoii,  son  of  (Ii,>  fornKM- p.viM-nor,  witli- 
•  iivvv  r.oni  111.-  .•oniu-il.  Tlu-  \W  who  ivLiiiio.l  Ihoir '[.In.v.s 
ii.ixiso.l  iiii;inimoiidv  (o  srn.l  no  (rooiK  into  (l,o  inlorior.  hut  so 
(.<  iv.Miror<-(>  (li.<  nrinv  ;is  (,.  oon,s(  i(n(o  HosIoiim  '•  |.1;i,v  of  .sifi- 
r(<(rt';i(." 

*^"   '''•''   'li'.v  llio  c.Minlv  .'oinonlion,  in  \\!ii,Ii  every  town 
^I'l'l    .ii^d-icl    ol'    Mi(|<|loso\    \v:is    rc|>ivs,.n(<>(l,    ni.-l    ;il    Concord. 
*•  W'l'  iuii;|  now  lA.Tl  .>nr;,'!v.>s."'s,,id  lliov,  "or  all  t  lioso  cllorts 
which    for   (on    voaiN   |,:,s(    h;iv.>   hri-hlcnod    (h,«  annals  of  (his 
«'<'iin(rv  will   1.0  (o(aIlv  friisd-alod.      I.ij',-  and  donih,  oc.  whal  is 
"'"''».    i'lvcdoin   and  slavcrv,  :in>   now  In^fove   ns."      hi   itohidl', 
'l""'"''r.M-o,  of  (honi.solvos  and   of  i'ii(iin>  ,uvnora(ions.  (hrv  ciin- 
in.MM(od    (!u<  viola(ions  of  (heir  rio-his   l._v   la((«   a('(s  o(  p.arlia- 
incnl.  whicli    (hey  avow(>d   (luMr   i>iiri.os,«  (o  nnllifv;  and  (hoy 
s.MK    (hiMi-   r.'solvos   l>_v  JIM   ('Npr.'ss  (o  (ho  coiHinonlal   (■on,.-;r('ss, 
"  W.>  aiv  -rriovod."  .s;iid  (luw.  "(o  lind  oiirsolvi's  rcihiccd  to  (Iu> 
iu«ocNsi(_v  o("  ontoriii).;  in(i>  (lu«  di.-.ciission  oi'  (li(>s,>  i;i\«al  and  |)r<)- 
tonnd   .pioMions;  hnl    \V(«  doprccalo  a   s(a(o  ol"  sLivcrv.     Our 
t.nh.ors  lofl  us  a  lair  iidi.>ri(ani'('.  |.;irchas(-d  hy  h\ooA  and  (roas 
lire;   (ins  wo  ,iro   n^ohod   (,.   (ranMnl(    o.|naliy  fair  (o  our  ohil- 
«in'n:  u«>  dan^vr  ■.li.ill   allViulit.   no   diiricultics  iiKiniidatc  us; 
;tnd   i('.   in  support   o(  our  riu-hts,  w.>  ar.>  called   to  encounter 
<^xcii  dc.uh,  wcarc  \c(  nnd,nint<>d  ;  sciisiMc  that    he  can  never 
d;e  too  soon  who  |,i\s  down  his  lit'e  in  support  ol    (he  laws  and 
liberties  >>i'  hi>  country. " 

riie  eo-.ivcntion  .siM^anited  in  \\w  cvcwu^x  o\'  \hc  la-t  dav  ot' 
Auons(.t.>  await  ll\e  decisions  ot"  (he  I'ontinental  cono-ress  ;"1mi( 
Ivl'vMv  tho  next  sun  was  up  t!ie  aspect  o\'  alVairs  \vas'elian,..r-<i. 


4 


1771. 


TIIK    I'lIiST    AMKUKJAN    CONGIIESH. 


55 


CIlAr'I'KIi    IV. 


'I'll I',  iiijsr  AMi:i;i<',\.N  coNciUMSs. 


!  .:   * 


Si:n'i;Mi;i;i;   OcroisKic    1771. 

'I'liK  province  kr\A  powder  lor  its  iiiililiii  iit,  (^uiirry  Hill  on 
!i  point  ol'  liind  lii^lweeii  Medford  and  ( ';unl>rid<;c.  TIic  towiw 
had  been  r(>nioviii<i;  (heir  stock,  each  accordiiiij;  lo  its  propor- 
lioiiH.  On  I  he  tirsi,  day  of  Seplend)er,  a  corps  of  I  wo  hiiiulred 
Mild  sixly  men,  einharkini;-  from  Koshdi  an  hour  helore  Kiiiiriso, 
seized  all  llie  powder  llial  remained,  anioiinfini:;  to  two  hun- 
dred and  lil'lv  hairicn'rels,  and  (ransj'erred  il  to  the  castle.  A 
detachment,  i'rom  the  corps  liroii^hi  .mV  (wo  licld-])ioce8  from 
( 'andtridye. 

This  sei/iire,  secrellv  i)laiined  and  suddenly  executed,  set 
(he  conntry  in  a  llame.  The  next  nlornin.<^^  thousands  of  iVoo- 
holders,  le;ivinii-  Iheir  nuns  in  (he  rear,  advanced  to('aitd)rid 


W 


u'ren,  aceom 


I'anied   l»y  as  niaiiv  of  (he  Host 


jre. 


on  committee  as 


came  in   his  way,  crossed   to  Charlestown,  and  with  tl 


imttei>  ot   tliat  (own  has(ened  to  meet  tl 


bnd-(>.     On  their  arrival,  ti 


10  com- 


K'  commit  too  of  Cam- 


ley  found  Danfortli,  a  county  ind 


ire 


and  miindamiis  councillor,  addivssinn-  a  very  laroe  iratheriii"-  of 
l>cople  who  stood  in  the  opin  air  round  the  court-house  steps; 
and  such  order  prevailed  that  the  low  voice  of  (ho  feehlo  old 
man  was  he;ird  by  the  whole  multitude.  He  linished  by  «>;iv- 
\nir  a  written  promis,>  never  "to  be  any  way  cncerned  as  a 
member  of  tiKM'omieil."'  Lee,  in  like  niamier,  continued  liis 
fornu-r  resio.„:,tion.  The  turn  of  Thipps,  the  hiuh  slienlT, 
I'aiue  next,  anl  lie  si^-ned  au  au-reiMnent  not  to  executo  any  pre- 
oopt  under  ihe  new  act  of  parliament. 


iiv. 


io  lunfeu.uit-^ijovenior,  who  resided  at  Caiubridi 


»#• 


;»»T^ 


(I 


iilHii 


56 


AMERICA  ARJIS   FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


ill 


Ki".  III.  ;  on.  IV. 

^opairo.l  to  IWon  in  the  "greatest  distress."     "It  is  not  -. 
ma    nH.l>;.ud].tot].eI.-itish.lnund;an<l,uMvan^ 

t    ^sen<l^..  ont  troops  m-u„1.1  ,,o  attended  with  the  mo^ 

f  ttal  rons.qn.nces."     Jh.d  ti.ey  nmn-lu-d  onlv  iive  n.iles  into 

^co,.nt.y   Warren  was  of  opinion  that  not  a  n  J     f  t     ^ 

would  lK,vel,een  saved.     Gage  ren.ained  inactive,  writin.  " 

.s.n.t.hca  ,on  to  the  nnnist,.:  ^-The  people  are' n.nne^^u^, 

1  olders  o     he  county.     A  check  would  he  fata  ,  and  the'  rst 
stn.ke  wdl  decide  a  great  deal.    We  should  therefore  bo     ro 
before  anything  decisive  is  nrgcd."  "= 

Oliver  returned  to  ('anib?i<lge  with  the  assurance  that  no 
rooi>s  wonlciappear,  and  to  beg  the  conuuittee's  leave  to  r^Z 
^.s  places.     But  in  the  aftenu.on  a  great  thn.n.  surromu led 
Ins  house  and  demanded  his  resio-nation      -  ^^  I,  ""*''^ 

to  <  oath  or  d«tr„.,.  ,„,•  ,,,,.,„,,,,  ,,„t  [  ,.,„  ,„/,„|„„ij  „  '"  "'' 

day  of  that  mnmior,  the  |x,,,,le  lco,rt  fho  rank  i„  „lu„h  thev 
v™  ,nar.haIlo,,,  and  their  •■  patience,  te„,|,e,,nee;  and  f     f 

1  er'      Tr™n  "'  ;'"';"  "  "^  ^'''•■^  "'^■'-'"^  "°f  ^'  good 
sold.ei.       Ihey  ailoiral  the  force  of  the  6ii-..estion  that  the 

nTi:r.";;d  r"'?,"-  ""'■'-  -'  *""  p'-^-  >""<<" 

and  I;       ,77  T'  """"""""^b'  .Loir  ,!etestafi„n  of  mohs 
and  r  ots,  and  of  the  destruction  of  private  property 

Then-  con,h,ct  showed  liow  formidaWe  tliey  .nis;' hi  prove  in 

«;;'•■;■,;:":''  -...ed  E„g,and  „f  the?r  co^ar.',!.;::,;;; 

letca  .        -« l,at  a  melancholy  consideration  for  all  fhinldn.. 
mo...  saui  Fox  to  llurke,  ",l„u  no  people,  animated  by  v    "J 
rn,c,ple  soever,  can  make  a  snccessial  resistance  to  Zl      v 
d.sc,pl,„c       I  „s  never  so  affected  ,vi,h  any  public  ev     i 
e.  her  n,  Instory  or  in  life.     I  „„,  ,„,-„,t„,  J.^J^  l^^^^ 

pi  'f  "■'•'  •'""  ";;■"  "'"'^"^  "«"»»'  ^"Wi"s."  At  that  time  t  e 
Bnfb  anny  m  Boston  feared  an  invasion;  the  finards  were 
do..bled,  cannon  were  placed  at  the  entrance  of  IZZ^Z 
the  troops  lay  on  their  arms  thron:;!,  the  ni.d.t 

The  militia  of  Worcester  county,  hearing  of  the  removal 


1774. 


THE  FIRST   AMERICAX   COXGRESS. 


57 

of  tlio  powder  l,elo,i..i„.r  to  tl.e  province,  rose  in  a  mass  and 
began  the  n>areli  to  IJoston.     On  Friday  afternoon  a.ul  Satur 
day  nionnn-  the  volunteers  from  Hampshire  county  advanced 
eastward  as  iar  as  Shrewsbury.     It  was  thought  that  twenty 
housind  were  in  motion.     Tlie  rum,>r  of  tlie  seizure  reached 
Israel  i  utnam  in  Connecticut,  with  the  addition  that  tlie  Brit- 
ish troops  and  men-ol-war  had  fired  on  the  people  and  killed 
Hx  men  at  the  first  shot,     despatching  the  report  to  Norwich 
iSew  London,  New  Jlaven,  New  York,  and  S(.>  to  Philadelphia' 
he  sunnnoned  the  neighboring  militia  to  take  up  arms      Thou- 
sands started  at  his  call,  but  these,  like  the  volunteers  of  ]V[as- 
sachusetts,  were  stopped  by  expresses  from  the  patriots  of  JJos- 
ton,  that  at  present  nothing  was  to  be  attempted.     In  return 
assurances  wei-c  given  of  most  effectual  supj^ort  whenever  it 
m.ght  be  required.     "  But  for  this  counter  intelligence;'  wrote 
i  utnani  and  his  associates  on  the  committee  of  Pomfret  "we 
should  have  had  forty  thousand  men,  we'    orp.ipped  and  ready 
to  march  tins  morning.     Send  a  .vritten  express  to  the  fore- 
man of  this  committee  when  yon  have  occasion  for  our  mar- 
tial assistance ;  we  shall  attend  your  summons,  and  shall  ...lory 
in  having  a  share  in  the  honor  of  ridding  our  country  of  the 
yoke  of  tyranny,  which  our  forefathers  have  not  borne,  nei- 
tlier  -will  we. '  ' 

This  rising  was  followed  by  many  advantages.  Every  man 
was  led  to  supply  deficiencies  in  his  equipments;  the  peo,)le 
gained  confidence  in  one  another,  and  a  method  .vas  concerted 
±0   calling  them  mto  service.     Outside  of  Boston,  the  kino-'s 

^^^^  1  "n  '"^^    ^^''  ^'"^'^'^  '^'y^'''''  ^^^  entertained  no 
from  fear,  or  fled  to  Boston  as  their  "only  asylum  " 

Gage  wi-ote  home  that,  "to  reduce  New  England,  a  very 
respectable  force  should  take  the  field."  He  had  five  re^i^ 
inents  at  Boston,  one  at  the  castle,  and  another  at  Salem ;  two 
more  he  summoned  hastily  from  Quebec;  he  sent  transports 
to  bring  another  from  New  York  ;  he  still  required  rc>-enforce 
ments  from  England;  and  resolving  to  employ  "ii.e  .  rs  of 
<yne  sort  or  other,  in  America,"  he  Iisked  of  cLeton,^:!::^:! 
jn.t  then  expected  to  arrive  from  England  at  Quebec  "what 
measures  would  be  most  efficacious  to  rSse  a  bod;  of  ZaZ^ 


1      ' 


58  AMERICA  ARMS   FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  m. ;  on.  iv. 

and  Indians  to  form  a  jnnelion  witli  tlio  king's  forcf^s."  Tiie 
thivat  to  tMiii)lo_y  the  rava-vs  a-ainst  the  colonists  had  boon 
thrown  out  at  tlie  time  of  Tryo.i's  marcli  a-ainit  tlio  roirnla- 
tors  of  Xorth  Carolina,  and  maj  bo  traced  back  to  the  discus- 
sions in  the  time  of  Shirley  on  remedies  for  the  weakness  of 
I5ritis]i  power.  The  commission  to  Carleton,  as  governor  of 
the  i)rovince  of  Qiiel)ec  under  the  act  of  i)arliament,  conveyed 
autliority  to  arm  and  employ  Tiot  the  Canadians  oidy,  but  '^dl 
persons  whatsoever,"  including  the  Inilian  tribes  from  the  coast 
of  Labrador  to  the  Ohio,  and  to  march  thejii  against  rebels 
"  into  any  one  of  the  plantations  in  America." 

There  were  no  English  iMvcedents  for  the  practice.  Dur- 
ing the  French  Avar,  IJritain  had  formed  connections  with  the 
Indian  ti-ibes,  through  whose  territory  lay  the  march  of  the 
Jiostilo  armies,  and  eui-olled  and  paid  warriors  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions rather  to  secure  neutrality  than  service.  No  war-party  of 
savages  was  ever  liounded  at  Canadian  villages.  The  French, 
on  the  other  liand,  from  thoir  superior  skill  in  gaining  the  love 
of  the  red  men  and  their  own  inferiority  in  numbers,  had  in- 
creased their  strength  by  Indian  alliances.  These  the  British 
king  and  his  ministers  now  revived,  and,  against  their  own 
colomcs  and  kindred,  loosed  from  the  leash  these  terrible  aux- 
iliaries. 

The  execution  of  tlio  sanguinary  orders  fell  naturally  into 
the  hands  of  the  most  unscrupulous  English  officers  and  the 
most  covetous  and  cruel  of  the  old  French  partisans.    Carletcm 
reprobated  the  measure,  which  he  was  yet  constrained  to  i)r.v 
nlo^^     "  \  ou  know,"  wrote  lie  of  the  Indians  to  (iago,  "  what 
sort  of  people  they  are."     The  cannibal  Indian  was  a  deadly 
toe  (jnly  as  he  skulked  in  aml)ush,  or  i)rowlcd  on  the  frontier, 
or  burned  the  defenceless  farm-house,  or  struck  the  laborer  in 
the  held,  or  smote  the  mother  at  her  h(.uselioId  task,  or  crashed 
the  infant's  head  against  a  rock  or  a  tree,  or  tortured  the  i)ris- 
ouer  on  whoso  flesh  he  was  to  gorge.     Tlie  women  and  chil- 
dren of  England  had  an  ocean  between  them  and  the  Indian's 
tomahawk,  and  had  no  share  in  the  tei-ror  that  went  before  his 
path  or  the  sorrows  that  he  left  behind.     Yet  Ga-e,  without 
much  compunction,  gave  directions  to  propitiate  and  inflame 
the  Indians  by  gifts,  and  to  subsidize  their  war-parties      Uis 


ill 


nu. 


tup:  fikst  American  coxgress. 


69 


commands  to  cin])l.>j  tlicm  extended  to  tlie  utmost  bounds  of 
lu8  military  authority,  ,so  tluit  tlie  coiincil.s  of  the  Clierokees 
and  Choctiis  and  ^ifohawka  were  named  as  currently  in  the 
correspondence  of  the  secretary  of  state  as  the  (ierman  courts 
of  llesse  and  Ilanau  and  Anspaeh. 

I>y  the  fifth  of  KSei)ttmlK3r,  (Ja^'e  ]iad  ordered  ground  to  bo 
broken  for  fortiiieations  on  the  Neck,  wliicli  formed  the  only 
entrance  by  land  into  Boston.     In  the  evening  the  selectmen 
remonstrated,  but  witii  no  effect.     The  next  day  the  conven- 
tion ot   Suffolk  comity,  which  it  had  been  agreed  bet\veen 
Samuel  Adams  and  Warren  should  send  a  memorial  to  the 
general  congress,  mot  in  Dedham.     Every  town  and  district 
was  i-epresented,  i-rid  their  grand  business  was  referred  to  a 
connmttee,  of  which  Warren  was  the  chairman. 
_      AVhilo  their  report  was  preparing,  the  day  came  f<.r  hold- 
ing the  county  assize  at  Worcester.     On   that  mornin.^  the 
mam  street  of  the  town  was  occupied  on  each  side  bv  mSi  ar- 
ranged under  their  leaders  in  c<mipanies,  six  deep,  and  extend- 
ing for  a  quarter  of  a  mile.    Through  this  great  mullitude  the 
ludgcs  and  their  assistants  passed  safely  to  the  court-house ;  but 
here  they  were  compelled  to  stay  proceedings,  and  pn.mise  not 
to  take  part  m  executing  the  unconstitutional  act  of  i)arliament 
_      An  approval  of  the  resistance  of  the  people  was  embodied 
m  the  careful  an<l  elaborate  re])ort  which  Warren  on  the  ninth 
presented  to  the  adjourned  Suffolk  convention.     "  On  the  wis 
dom  and  on  the  exertions  of  this  important  day,"  such  were 
Its  words  "  js  suspended  the  fate  of  the  ^^ew  Wo'rhl  and  of  un- 
born millions."     The  resolutions  which  f<,llowed  declared  tint 
he  sovereign  who  bre^iJcs  his  compact  with  his  people  forfeits 
then  allegiance.     By  their  duty  to  God,  their  countrv,  tliem- 

^^    r'"'^-;  '''^'  '''''''''  *^"  ^"™*^'  '^  "--^^^^  their 
civil  and  rehgious  hberties,  and  to  transmit  them  entire  to  fu- 

ure  generations     They  rejected  as  unconstitutional  the  rcm- 

^S  ^^f'^"™?'!^  ^ff"  t^-  -ffi--  appointed  underlts 
authon  .>.  Ihey  enjomed  the  mandamus  councillors  to  resign 
their  places  within  eleven  days.  Attributing  to  the  British 
«>inmandeiMn-chief  hostile  hitentions,  they  direct  tSth 
ectors  of  taxes  to  pay  over  no  money  to  fhe  treasurer  whom 
lie  recognised.     The  governor  and  couucH  had  formerly  ap! 


0 


Hi 


m  u 


60 


AMKIMCA   .\I;MS    KOli   SKI.F  DliFKNCI.] 


Kr*.  [II.  :  CM.  IV. 


WiiH  no 


VOfl 


pointed  111!  military  oHiccrs  ;  now  (li:it  tlic  Ic^al  t'oiinci! 
I(>n«:;(T  cuiisiillcil,  lli(>y  advisi'd  tin-  towns  to  eltrt  for  tlicnisel 
olllccrs  of  (iicir  militia  from  such  as  wvvv  iiitlcxiMc  frii'iid.-t  to 
tlieri<rlitrt()f  tlicix'oplc.  For  purposes  of  pioviiicial  "■ovcrmricnt 
tilt 


d  vised 


I  pioviiicial  eoiioress,  while  they  |)romised  respect 
and  Ktd)missioii  to  tlu'  continental  ('on<rrcss.  Aj^ainst  the  pres- 
ent hostile  appcaianccs  o;i  llie  partofdreat  I'ritain  tliey  ex- 
pressed their  deicrmiiiatioii  "(o  act  iipoi)  the  defensive  soloni,' 
as  such  conduct  nun^ht  Ik'  vindicated  l»y  reason  and  the  princi- 
ples of  self-preservation,  hut  no  K.u^vr."'  Should  (Ja^e  arrest 
anyone  for  political  reasons,  they  pronused  to  seize  every  erown 
ollicer  in  tiie  province  as  hosta^^es ;  and,  as  it  niii-'ht  hecc.mo 
necessary  suddenly  to  sunnnon  assistance  from  the  country, 
they  arran«4ed  a  sys(en>  of  couriers  who  were  to  Itear  writ  (en 
messa<;es  to  the  selectmen  or  corresponding'  connnitlees  of  (he 
several  towns.  'J'he  resolutions  which  thus  concerted  an  armed 
resistance  they  nnanimou>Iy  adopted,  and  forwarded  hy  express 
to  the  continental  con^i^ress  for  its  consideration  and  advice. 
"  In  a  cause  so  solenm,"  they  said,  "our  conduct  shall  he  such 
as  to  merit  the  a[)prohation  of  the  wise  and  the  admii-ntion  of 
the  bravo  and  free  of  every  ago  and  of  every  count  rv." 

The  country  towns  in  jreneral  chose  theii-  own  ollicers,  and 
nnistered  for  exercise  at  least  once  a  week  ;  and  the  e(.lonel 
ami  the  cler<;yman  and  the  wpiire  appeared  in  the  ranks  with 
a  firelock  to  he  taii«j,ht  the  manual  exercise.  The  county  of 
AVorcester  formed  all  their  male  inhahitants  from  the  a'i:'e  of 
sixteen  to  seventy  into  companies  and  re<,dments,  and  it  was 
a<?roed  that  one-third  part  of  the  emolled  should  hold  them- 
selves ready  to  march  "at  a  mimite's  M-ariung." 

The  intrenchments  on  Uoston  Neck  placed  all  within  (he 
lines  at  the  mercy  of  the  army;  yet,  fearless  »»f  heart,  Warren 
hastened  into  the  presence  of  (hio-e,  to  protest  in  the  name  of 
Suffolk  county  against  the  new  fortiticutions  that  closed  the 
town. 

The  carpenters  of  Boston,  at  the  lieight  of  their  distress  for 
want  of  emphn'ment,  refused  to  construct  barracks  for  the 
army.  ]\reantime,  the  colony  d(«sired  to  guard  against  anarchy 
by  instituting  a  government  of  their  own,  for  which  they  found 
liistorical  precedents.     In  the  days  of  AVilliam  the  Deliverer 


1774. 


TIIR   FIRST   AMICIUCAN  CONCiRKSS. 


01 


lui'l  ^^;lry,  Coiinccticut  iiiid   llhinU:   ]>huul   Iiud  r'ncli  rcsuiiKMl 
tlio  eliiirhT  (»f  <,'ovenmK'iir  wliicli  .Jiiincs  II.  liii<l  HU])t'r.sc(lc'(l ; 
flK!  |)C()|)I(;  (.f   .M;iss;ic'liiiHetts  now  wisliod  to  icvivu   their  old 
chiirter,  mid  continiio  idlf^iaiico  to  (Jeorn^t!  Ill,  on   no  other 
fcnns  than    those  whicli   their  uneestors  liad  Ftipniated  witli 
( 'harlcs  I. ;  "  otherwiKe,"  Huid  they,  '^  the  law.s  of  ( lod,  of  nature, 
and  of  nations  ohh'^^e  us  to  east  about  for  safety."     "  If  tlie 
Umv  New  Kn^Iand  ^Governments  alone  adoi)t  tiie  measure," 
said  Ilawlej  of  Ilairipshire,  "  I  will  venture  my  life  to  carry 
it  a^^'iinst  the  whole  f(.ree  of  (ireat  I5rita!ii."     In  the  eon<rrc.s3 
of  Worcester  county  a  motion  was  made  to  reassumo  the  old 
charter  and  elect  a  <,Govenior.     AVai-ren,  careful  lest  the  ])rov- 
iiico  should  be  Ihou-ht  toaim  at  nivater  advanta^^es  than  the 
other  colonies  mi^dit  l,e  willinjjj  to  contend  for,  sou^lit  iirst  the 
consent  of  the  continental  coii,i,n'es^,  remindin;,^  its   members 
that  one  colony  of  freemen  would  be  a  noble  bulwark  for  all 
America. 

New  En^'land  had  surmounted  its  o'reatest  dilliculties;  its 
enemies  ])laced  their  liopes  on  the  HUi)|)osed  timidity  of  the 
genera!  congress. 

At  I'hiladel|)liia  tlie  South  Carolinians  greeted  the  delegates 
of  aMassachusett  as  the  heralds  of  freedom,  and  the  Virginians 
equallecl  or  surpassed  their  colleagues  in  resoluteness  and^spirit; 
but,  while  tliere  was  great  diversity  of  o])inions  respecting  tlic' 
proper  modes  of  resisting  the  aggressions  of  the  mother  coun- 
try, all  united  in  desiring  "the  union  of  Great  Uritaiu  and  the 
colonies  (.n  a  constitutional  foundation." 

On  ]\Ionday,  tlu;  lifth  of  September,  Galloway,  tlie  speaker 
of  tlie  i'ennsylvania  assembly,  would  have  liad  congress  use  the 
statc-liouse  as  the  place  for  their  delii)erati()ns,  but  the  carpen- 
ters of  rhiladelphia  offered  their  ])lain  but  spacious  hall ;  and, 
from  respect  for  the  mechanics,  it  was  accepted  by  a  great  ma- 
jority. The  names  of  the  members  were  then  called  over- 
and  Patrick  Henry,  Washington,  Eichard  Henry  Lee,  Sanmel 
Adams,  John  Adams,  Jay,  Gadsden,  John  Tiutl'edge  of  South 
Carolina,  tlie  aged  Hopkins  of  lihode  Island,  and  others,  rep- 
resenting eleven  colonies,  answered  to  the  call.  Peyton  R-m- 
dol{)h,  late  speaker  of  the  assembly  of  Virginia,  was  nominated 
for  tlie  chair  by  Lynch  of  South  Carolina,  and  was  unanimously 


«■       111 


62  AMEIiICA  AIJMS  I.'OIl  Sl-LF-DErKNCK. 


El'.  III. ;  cii.  IV. 


cl 


losi'il.      The  ])iu]y  naiik'd  itsL-lf  "  tiio  coi 


itrnss,"  iiTid  its  cluilr- 
iiiiin  "the  pivsidoiit."  ,Iay  and  Diuuio  would  have  .sck-cted  a 
Bucrotaiy^froni  aiiioii-;  tliemsi'lvcs  ;  but,  on  tlio  motion  of  Ljncli, 
riiarles  Tlioni.-^on  was  ai>[)oint('(l.  ('olonios  diirt'riii<r  i"  -.' 
li-ioiis  oi>iiii,.n.s  in  fonnueivial  intm'sts,  and  in  <'v%un"n.»' 
dflRMident  (.11  cliinatL"  and  lalior,  in  usa<,n's  and  man'i.m  8w../od 
by  irciimx-al  pivjiidic's,  and  iVciurntly  (inanvllinij  i  '  <n.\^ 
other  ivs[)trtin,ir  botnidarios,  found  tlu-iusclves  unucu  i  no 
representative  body. 

Then  aro.se  the  (piestlon  as  to  tlie  nietliod  of  voting'.  There 
were  iifty-llve  members,  eaeh  eoh)ny  havin^,'  sent  n^  many  aa 
it  [)ieasi-d.  Ilriiry,  a  representative  of  tliJ  larirc^t  state,  "inti- 
mated that  it  would  l,e  unjust  for  a  little  colo'ny  to  wei^irji  as 
innch  in  the  councils  of  America  as  a  {?reat  one.  "A little 
colony,"  okscrved  Sullivan  of  Xew  Hampshire,  "lias  its  all  at 
stake  as  well  as  a  great  one."  John  Adams  admitted  that  the 
vote  by  colonies  Mas  nne(pial,  yet  that  an  o])po>site  course  would 
lead  to  ]ierplexini.-  controversy;  for  there  were  no  autlientic 
records  of  the  numbers  of  the  people  or  the  vabie  of  their 
trade. 

The  discussion  1,.,!  tlie  mend)ers  to  c.xagcrerntc  tlie  popu- 
Itition  of  their  respective  coloiues ;  and  the' aggre^t^^ate  of  the 
estimates  was  made  to  exceed  tlireo  millions.  '  Few  of  them 
possessed  accurate  materials  ;  A^irg-iiiia  and  the  Carolinas  ]iad 
never  enumerated  the  Avoodsmen  among  the  mountains  and 
beyond  them.  From  vcturns  which  were  but  in  part  accessible 
to  the  crmo-ress,  it  appears  that  the  number  of  white  inhabi- 
tants m  all  the  thirteen  colonies  was,  in  1774,  about  two  mill- 
ions one  hundred  thousand;  of  blacks,  about  five  hundred 
thousand ;  the  total  population,  very  nearly  two  niillions  six 
hundred  thousand. 

At  tlie  beginning  of  the  next  day's  session  a  long  and  deep 
silence  prevailed.  The  voice  of  Virginia  was  waited  for,  and 
was  heard  through  Patrick  Henry. 

M-Alurr  a  recital  of  the  wrongs  inflicted  on  the  colonies  by 
acts  of  parliament,  he  declared  that  all  govermnent  was  dis- 
solved; that  an  entire  new  one  must  be  founded  ;  that  the  con- 
gress then  assembled  was  but  the  first  in  a  never-ending  suc- 
cession ;  that  their  present  decision  would  form  a  i)recrdent. 


1774. 


Tlir:  FIRST  AMEIirCA^f  CONGRESS. 


r,:^ 


AsscrfiTifir  tho  neeossitj  of  union  and  his  (.wn  (Iftenniniiti,,,,  to 
submit  to  the  opinion  of  tlic  nmjority,  ho  discussed  tiio  nn's- 
cliicfrf  of  iin  uiu'(iu!il  ivpivscntation,  tho  iidvantii;,^o  of  a  systoni 
that  shoidd  i-'ivo  each  colony   its  just  wei<,dit.      'J'ho   donio- 
enitical  part  of   tho  coiislitulion,  lie   iiisistod,   must   Ix'    prc- 
Horvt'd  in  its  purity      Wuhnnt  refusin^^  some  regard  in   tlic 
adjustment  of  reprts.nitation  to  tho  opulence  of  a  colony  uh 
nmrl<ed  hy  its  exports   and   imports,   jio   spc.ke  for  a  repro- 
Hcntation  of  men.     -Shives,"  said  he,  "are  to  he  thrown  out 
of  the  fpiestion;  if  the  freemen  can  ho  represented  aceord- 
ini,'  to  their  nmuhers,  I  am  satisfied"     To  tiui  ol.iecti<.n  tliat 
sucli  a  re[)rcsentation  would  confer  an  undue  luvponderaiieo 
u.i  tho  more  p()])u Ions  states,  lie  replied:  "  British  oj-pression 
lias  effaced  the  hoimdaries  of  tho  several  cohmies;   the  dis- 
tinctions hetween  Virginians,  Pennsylvanians,  New  Yoikers, 
and  Now  Kni-laiiders  arc  no  inore.     I  am  not  a  Yir.riuian' 
but  an  American."      "A   compound   of  nund)ers  arafprcp! 
oity,"  said  Lynch,  "sIh.uUI  determine  (he  weight  of  the  glo- 
mes;" but  ]io  admitted  tliat  such  a  rule  coidd  not  tiien  bo 
settl  jd.     In  tlic  same  spirit  sjioho  the  elder  Kutledge;  "  AVo 
liave  no  legal  authority ;  and  oliedience  to  the  measures  wo 
adopt  will  only  follow  their  reasonableness,  ajvparent  utilitv 
a!.(l  necessity.     Wo  liave  no  coercive  autliority.      Our  con! 
stitueiits  are  bound  only  in  lionor  to  ol)servo  our  deternn-na- 
tions."     'T  cannot  see  anyway  of  voting  but  bv  colonies" 
f..  I  (;ad^(h'n.     "Every  colony,"  insisted  AVard  of  Eh  ode  Is'l- 
aiul,  "should  liavc  an  equal  vote.     The  counties  of  A'ir'nnia 
are  une.pial  in  point  of  wealth  and  numbers,  yet  each  1ms  a 
right  to  send  two  members  to  its  legislature.     A\^e  come  if 
necessary,  to  nudvo  a  saci-ilice  of  our  all,  and  by  such  a  .4c- 
rihce  the  weakest  will  suffer  as  much  as  the  greatest."     Harri- 
son of  Alrginia  spoke  strongly  on  the  opposite  side,  and  was 
'  very  api.rchensivo  that,  if  such  a  disrespect  should  be  put 
npon  his  countrymen  as  that  A'irginia  should  have  no  greater 
weight  than  the  smallest  colony,  they  would  never  he  seen  at     - 
another  convention."     Yov  this  menace  of  disunion  he  M'as  at 
once  rebuked  hy  liis  colleagues.     "Though  a  representation 
equal  to  the  nnportanco  of  each  colony  were  ever  so  just,"  said 
ivieliard  Henry  Lee,  "the  delegates  from  flu^  several  colonies 


Ifj 


' 


^I'iif 


(ii  AMKKKW  AUMS   FOIl  SKI.F-DKKlON'CH 


i:i'.  III. 


<ll.  IV. 


5"v  iiiiiMviKiivd  with  iii;it(M-:;iis  |,>  «,>|||o  tli;-!   n|iii,lif v."      I!|,.ni,l 
of  Viru-iiii:i,  siiw   no  wifcfy  l)iit  in  votin-r  by  (.,,| 


onics. 


(lUcstioii/'  lie    ;i(|(i(.(|, 

A 


Til 


IS    w 


Anu'ricii  .sliall    he  (MMilciitlcd    I 


lift  her  liic  rii^iit.s  and    libciiics  (,f 


or,   or  n-ivcii    ii|)   lo   iirhifraiy 


powci-;'      IVndinon  iic(|iii(.srcd,  \vi  wished   (lie  siil 
he  open  (n;-  iTcoiisidciMl ion  wIkmi  lull  info 
1)0011  ohtainod. 


» )('('(:  ini^'ht; 
I'liiation  should  have 


It  was  rcsolvi'd  (hat, 


liMVo  oii(>  \oi('o;  l.iit    the  joiinial  adds  as  (I 


ill  takhi^Mjiicstioiis,  i-ach  colony  should 


ooiii-'ross   wa-  not   t\\cn 


it'  reason,  fliat  "(! 


10 


aiilo 


.'isi'ortaiiiiiii'-  the 


'"   pi'ocuiv   |.ro|H>r    niatorials  for 


iini>(>rlaiio.,  of  oach  coloiiv, 


Diirin-  (ho  (k-l)a((>,  -lay  dissnUod   in  nart  from  II 


1I1.0-:  "  I  cannot  yof  (liink  (hat  w 


oni-y,  sav- 


constidition,  iiislcad  of  ,.,i(| 


o  c;iiiio  (o  iVainc  an  Ai 


noi'ican 


cavoniii^-  (o  con-oct  (ho  raull,-.  ii 


old  one 


1  an 


must  run  ovi-i- 
tion." 


Ill'  nioasiiro  ol   arl.itran-  ['owor  is  not    full,  and   it 


iHMoiv  wo    uiidc-rtako   to  iVaii 


10  ;i  iio\"  (ioiistitii- 


t  -vas  no\(  voted  thai  -(ho  (h)ors  be  kopt  shut  d 


tnno  of    husii 


uriiio-  til 


.y 


iiid    tho   nioinhoi's  hound   (honisolvos  h^ 
<hoir  honor  (o  kcop  (ho  procoodinos  socr,>t  until  (he  niajoritv' 
siiouhl  duvet  them  to  I.e  made  pui.lic.     The  treacherous  (        " 
way  plod^vd  his  honor  with  (ho  n-st. 

To   (he    proposal    (hat    couoress    (ho   nox^   day    Khoul.l    1) 
opened  widi  prayer,  day  and  IJutled 


lailo- 


10  iXivM  diM'i'silv  of   ri'Iii.- 


said    Saniiiei    Ad; 


lous  sl'ntlnlon(^ 


>jocf(Mi,  on  accoun(  ol 
"  I  am  no  l)ii>-o(,"' 


mis. 


l)rayor  Irom   a   man  of  piety  and    v 


lio   (  onuTopidoualist  ;    "  I    ean    I 


loar  a 


time  a  Irioiid  to  his  country  ; "  and.  on  I 


iriue.  who   Is  at    tho  same 


an 


tl 


.piscopal  cler-iynian,  was  chost>n   for  (I 


liS  iKMiiiuation,  ( )iiclicv 


ioa(i|oiirniiu>nl,  riiiuai 


11-  service, 


l»otoro 


alter  a  iiKuuly  attack  on   t 


iisexpi-i    .arrived  with  (ho  rojiort  (ha(, 


Con 


necticiit  as  well  as  Massaoh 


10  people  l,y  riio  (roojis  at  IJoston, 


iioxt  (lay  miitlled  hells  wero  tolled.     Ai 


uselis  was  ri>iMf  in 


arms. 


trro! 


W 


tlu'  oiH'iiiui;-  of  con- 


isliino'fon  was  present,  -tandino-  in  prayc-c.  and  Ilenr 
uul  Kaiidolph  and   L,m' and  day  and  iJutlodo-e' and  (Jadsd.-n 


iiiul   by   tlieir   side    rri'sbvto 


J. 


nans  and    ( \»ni;rei.ationa lists  ;  tl 


ivino-stous.Slieriuan  Samuel  Adams,  John  Ad; 


10 


'>f  Now  Ku_o-land,  wlm  believed   that  a  rude  sold 


iiitostmo'  (ho  dwollii 


mis;  iiud  odiei-s 
iory  wero  then 


ii;s  and  taking-  the  lives  of  their  f 


noiuls. 


I77t. 


THE   FIIIST  AMERICAN   CONGRESS. 


6f 

Wl.on  thopsalu,  for  fl.o  dny  was  read,  Ilcavon  itself  seemed 
ntterin-  its  oraele.     -  Plead  thou  my  eaiise,  ()  Lo,-,],  with  tl.eni 
tluit  strive  wifli   n,e ;  and  li-ht  tl.oi.  against  tlieni  that  fixdit 
against  n.e.     Lay  hanc'  npon  the  shield  and  bnekler,  and  stand 
iq.  to  help  nu..     iJ.-ing  forth  the  spear,  and  stop  the  way  against 
them  that  persecute  n.e.     J.et  them  that  imagine  misehiS  for 
.ne  he  as  dnst  before  the  wind.     AVho  is  like  nnto  thee,  who 
dehverest    the    p..or  from   him   that   is  too  strong  for  lu'm  ? 
I^ord  !  how  long  wilt  thou  look  on  'i     Awake,  and  stand  up  to 
.1  Hige^  n.y  ,, nun-el ;  ave.ige  thon  my  eanse,  my  God  and  my 
>nl.       Alter  this,  the  minister,  with  the  earnestness  of  the 
.est  div.nes  of  Now  Knghu.d,  nnexpeetedly  hurst  into  an  cx- 
te,npore  prayer  for  America,  for  the  congress,  for  Massachu- 
setts, and  especially  for  lioston. 

_  The  congivss  that  day  appointed  one  committee  on  the 
nghts  <.f  tlu- colonies,  and  aru.thcr  on  the  Hritish  statutes  all'ect- 
ing  their  manufactures  and  tra<le.  They  received  by  a  second 
cypress  the  same  confused  account  of  bloodshed  n,>ar  IJoston. 
1  roofs  both  of  the  sympathy  and  the  resolution  of  the  conti- 
nent met  the  delegates  of  Massachusetts  on  every  hand;  and 
the  cry  of  -  nar  "  was  pronounced  with  iirmness. 

Tl.e  next  day  brought  more  exact  information,  and  the 
comnnttee  of  congress  on  the  rights  of  the  colonies  began  their 
dehberafons.      J  he  h'rst  inquiry  related  to  the  founri.tion  of 
taose  rights.     Lee  of  Virginia  rested  them  on  nature.     "Our 
ancestors,    he  said,  "found  here  no  government,  and,  as  a  con- 
sequence ha<l  a  right  to  make  their  own.     Charters  are  an 
uisafe  rdumce  for  the  kings  right  to  grant  them  has  itself 
been  denied         esides,  the  right  to  life  and  the  riglit  to  liberty 
arc  unalienable."      f.y  of  Xew  York  likewise  recurred  to  the 
aM  s  of  nature ;  and  enumerated  among  natural  rights  the  right 
to  eimgra te,  and  the  right  of  the  emigrants  to  er^ct  what  ..ov- 
ornment  they  pleased.     John  Kutledge,  on  the  contrary,  held 

lad  the  right  to  elect  their  king;  that  American  claims  were 
;  f  Titn  ''■"";:'r  J;"''^^^'  --titution  rather  than  from  the  law 
fronf  *  ^;"\^^^^^'^-"'^"^  «^  Connecticut  deduced  alleHanco 
f  om  eonsent  without  wnich  the  colonies  were  not  bomul  by 
tl^^  act  of  settlement.     Dnane,  like  Rutledge,  shrunk  from  the 


■m 


^ 

7    Ass— . 

1  ' 

1 

i 

'1 

1 

! 

("Ill: 


'i     I    ! 


66 


AMEIMCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EI',  m. ;  on.  it. 


appeal  to  tliu  law  of  nature,  and  lie  fonnded 
property  in  land. 


goveranient  on 


Lchind  w.wou  viuwt*  my  lue  question  oi  the  power  of  j)ar- 
Hamcnt  over  ti.e  eolonies.  "  A  ri-lit  of  regulating  trade,"  said 
(hidsden,  true  to  the  principle  of  17(55,  "is  a  right  of  legisla- 
tion, and  a  rigjit  of  legislation  in  one  ease  is  a  right  in  all." 

Amid   varying    opinions   and   theories,  the   congress,'   in- 
creased to  twelve  colonies  by  delegates  from  North  (Carolina 
and  intent  upon   securing  absolute   unanimitv,    moved  with 
great  deliberation;  so  that  (lalloway  hoped  -the  two  parties 
would  remain  on  an  equal  balance."     iJut  in  that  body  there 
was  a  man  wlio  knew  how  to  bring  the  entliusiasm  of  the  peo- 
ple mto^conneetion  with  its  represe   atives.    "  Samuel  Adams," 
wrote  Galloway,  "  though  by  no  means  remarkable  for  brilliant 
abilities,  is  equal  to  most  men  in  pojnilar   intrigue  and  the 
management  of  a  faction.     He  eats  little,  drinks^little,  sleeps 
httle,  and  thinks  much,  and  is  most  decisive  and  indefatigable 
111  the  pursuit  of  his  object.s.     He  was  the  man  who,  by  his 
superior  application,  managed  at  once  the  faction  in  congress 
at  Philadelpliia  and  the  factions  in  New  England." 

On  the  seventeenth  of  September,  the  delegates  of  Ifassa- 
ehusetts  laid  before  congress  the  address  of  the  Sulfolk  county 
conventit)!!  to  (Jage,  on  his  seizure  of  the  province's  stock  of 
powder  and  his  hostile  occupation  of  the  only  approach  to  Eos- 
ton  by  land  ;  and  the  resolutions  of  the  same  convention,  which 
declared  tliat  no  obedience  was  due  to  the  acts  of  parliament 
affecting  their  colony. 

As  the  pa]^-rs  were  read,  expressions  of  esteem,  love,  and 
admiration  bruise  forth  in  generous  and  manly  eloquence. 
*'  rnanimity  prevailed  not  of  provinces  only,  but  of  individual 
members.-'  In  language  which  but  faintly  expressed  their 
spirit,  they  declared  their  sympathy  with  their  sulferiii;.  coun- 
trymen in  ^Massachusetts,  most  thoroughly  apjjroved  the  -A'is- 
dom  and  fortitude  with  which  opposition '  to  min'storial  meas- 
ures had  hitlicrto  been  conducted,  and  I'^rnestly  rccoMa-ended 
perseverance  according  to  the  resolutions  of  tlie  county  of  Suf- 
folk. Knowing  that  a  new  ]xirliament  m.h-t  soon  bo  chosen, 
they  expressed  their  trust  "tliat  the  united  :  iforts  of  North 
America  would  carry  such  conviction  to  tie  Briti^ii  nation  of 


im. 


THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  CONGRESS. 


67 

tlie  unjust  and  ruinous  policy  of  the  present  administration  aa 
quickly  to  introduce  bettor  men  and  wiser  measures." 

To  this  end,  they  ordend  their  own  resolutions,  with  the 
communiCL  tions  from  Suffolk  county,  to  be  printed.  But  their 
appeal  to  the  electors  of  Britain  wjis  anticipated.  The  inflexi- 
ble king,  weighing  in  advance  the  possible  influence  of  the 
American  congress,  overruled  Lord  Nortii,  and,  on  the  last  day 
of  September  suddenly  dissolving  parliament,  brought  on  the 
new  election  before  proposals  for  conciliation  could  be  re- 
ccived. 

Gage,  with  the  forces  under  his  command,  hoped  fur  no 
more  than  to  pass  the  winter  unmolested.     At  one  moment  a 
suspension  of  the  penal  acts  was  his  favorue  advice,  which  the 
king  ridiculed  as  senseless ;  at  the  nexr,  he  demanded  an  army 
of   wenty  thousand  men,  to  be  composed  of  Canadian  recruits, 
Indians,  and  hirelings  from  the  continent  of  Europe;  again  he 
would  bring  the  Americans  to  terms  by  casting  them  off'  as 
fellow-su bjects,  and  not  suffering  even  a  boat  to  go  in  or  out  of 
their  harbors.    All  the  while  he  was  exerting  himself  to  obtain 
payment  for  the  tea  as  a  prelude  to  reconciliation.     His  a-ents 
wrote  to  their  friends  in  congress,  urging  concessions.     Such 
was  the  advice  of  Church,  in  language  affecting  the  highest 
patriotism ;  and  an  oflicer  who  had  served  with  Washington 
sought  to  persuade  his  old  companion  in  arms  that  New  Eng- 
land was  conspiring  for  independence.     It  was,  moreover,  in- 
sinuated that,  it   ]\[assachusetts  should   once  resume  its  old 
charter  and  elect  its  governor,  a'l  New  England  would  unite 
xwth  her,  and  be.onie  .crong  enough  to  absorb  the  lands  of 
other  governments;  that  New  Hampshire  would  occupy  both 
slopes  of  the  Green  Mountains ;  that  Massachusetts  M^ould  seize 
the  western  territory  of  Nev^  York;  while  Connecticut  would 
appropriate  Northern   Pennsylvania,  and  compete  with  Vir- 
ginia for  the  West. 

The  fruf  d  New  I  ,.  ..nd  people  increased  their  frugality. 

As  for  n,e,"  wrot:  the  wife  of  John  Adams,  "I  will  seek 

wool  and  flax,  avid  work  willingly  with  my  hands."    Yet  the 

poorest  man  m  his  di.fr.s.  would  not  accept  emplojnnent  from 

^hiriff    "'7'   '"^  '^''  ''''^'''  ""'''''''  *«^^'"«  '-'greed  to 
withhold  from  It  every  supply  beyond  what  humanity  lequired. 


.  t 


68 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


i:r.  III. ;  cii.  iv. 


I'utiill  the  i)r()viii('(>,  c>vcmi  to  I'VImoulIi  and  l.ryond  it,  sliiiml 
t.lio  sorrows  of  liostoii,  and  cheered  it.s  inliahitanls  in  tlieir  kuI'- 
forings.  J<or  did  itn  citizens  despair.  Its  newlj  elected  rej)- 
■eKontatives  were  instn/cted  never  to  aeknowledm;  tlio  rcnilat- 


...  i^  n 

induct;  and,  m  cas(>  ,>[  a  dis.solution,  to  join  tiie  other  mem 
hers  ill  forrnino-  a  provincial  coiiijjress. 

The  assend)ly  was  snnmioned  to  meet  at  Salem  on  tlie  lil'tli 
of  ()ct()l)er,  at  which  time  the  councillors  who  had  heen  lefi:ally 
eommissioned  in  May  intended  to  take  their  seats,  as  their  pe- 
riod ol-  oflice  was  a  year,  and  \hvy  were  not  removable!  durinjr 
the  term  for  whicli  tliey  were  cliosen.  Against  so  clear  a  titk^ 
the  mandamus  connciiK)rs  would  not  dare  to  claim  their  places 
witiiout  a  lar-^er  escort  than  they  could  receive,  (iao'c  was  in 
a  dilem.na.  On  the  twenty-ei-hth  of  Sej)teml)er,  hy  an  anoma- 
lous proclamation,  he  neither  dissolved  nor  i)roro-ue(l  the  as- 
sembly whicli  ho  ]uid  called,  but  declined  to  meet  it  at  Sulem, 
!ind  iussnmed  to  dischar<re  (he  n^presentativos  elect  from  their 
duty  of  attendance. 

Meantime,  the  continental  committee  on  tlie  rights  of  the 
colonies,  havinn:  been  incnased  by  one  member  from  each  of 
the  three  lu-ovinces— Virojinia,  IMassachusetts,  and  Pennsylvania 
— t>xtended  their  searches  to  the  statutes  alVectinfr  industry  and 
trade.  l>nt  in  a  body  whoso  members  were  collected  from  re- 
mote parts  o^'  country,  accustomed  to  no  uniform  rules, 
(h'lferino;  i„  t  .•  ,.as  and  their  forms  of  expression,  distnist 
could  be  alla,>.  dy  by  the  most  patient  discussions;  and,  for 
the  sake  of  unanimity,  tedious  delay  was  inevitable. 

In  the  tirst  place,  it  was  silently  agreed  to  rest  the  demands 
of  America  not  on  coiisideratiem  ■  -^f  natural  rio-his,  but  on  a 
lustorical  basis.  IVotliing  was  complained  of  but  innovations, 
6o  that  every  appearance  of  a  revolution  was  avoided. 

How  far  the  retrospect  for  grievances  should  be  carried 
was  the  next  incpiiry.  South  Carolina  would  have  included  all 
hvws  restrictive  of  manufactures  and  navigation  ;  in  a  word,  all 
the  statutes  of  wliich  (Jreat  Britain  liad  been  s,;  i)rodigal 
toward  her  infant  colonI(>s,  for  the  pur]iose  of  confming  their 
trade  and  crii>plin.<r  their  doir.estic  industry.  iJu^  Mio  Virgini- 
ans, conforming  to  their  instructions,  narroweu  the  issue  to 
the  innovations  during  the  reign  of  George  III. ;  and,  as  j..ary. 


1774. 


TriK  FIRST   AMERICAN   CONCRKSS. 


69 

l;iM(I  iuid  North  C.'un.Ii.Ki  would  n<,t  sepanito  froin  Yir.rinla  tlie 
acts  of  i.;iv.>ifion,  tlioii-Ii  condotuned  l,y  Kichurd  Jlenry^Leo 
as  ;.  capital  violation  of  American  rights,  were  not  included  in 
tliC  list  of  gricvanccH, 

The  Vir-inian.s  had  never  meant  to  own  the  l)indinir  force 
of  the  acts  ot  navi.i,.iti..n  :  the  proposal  to  ree<.<rnise  the.n  came 
from_  Duane  of  New  York,  and  encountered  the  stron.^e^t  op- 
position.    Some  wished  to  deny  altogeth..-  the  anthority  of 
parliament ;  others,  its  power  of  taxation  ;  others,  its  ,)ower  of 
•"f^'nial  taxation  only.     These   discussions   were   drawn  into 
^m>at  lrn,^rth,nnd  seemed  to  promise  no  a-rcement ;  till,  at  kst 
.J<;l'y   Adams  was  j.ersnaded  to  shape  a  compromise  in  the 
Hp.nt  imd  very  nearly  in  tlie  words  of  JAumc.     Jlis  resolution 
ran  thus:  '•  |<rom  the  necessity  of  the  case  and  a  rcL^ard  to  the 
iuutuaj  mterest  of  the  conntries,  we  cheerfully  consent  to  the 
operation  c,f  sneh  acts  of  the   Hritisli  parliament  as  are,  bona 
>/.',  restrained  to  the  re.irulation  of  onr  external  commerce, 
for  the  i)nrpose  of  seenrino-  the  commercial  advantages  of  the 
whole  empire  to  the  mother  country  and  the  c<.mmercial  bcne- 
itsof  Its  respective  members;  excluding  every  idea  of  taxa- 
tion, ..nternal  or  external,  for  raising  a  revenue  on  the  subjects 
VI  America  without  their  consent." 

This  articl(>  was  contrary  to  the  principles  of  Otis  at  the 
c-onm.encement  of  the  contest ;  to  the  repeate.l  declarations  of 
iMumiel  Adams;  to  the  congress  of  17G5,  whi(-h  had  put  aside 
a  similar   proposition   when   ollered  by  Livingston  of   Now 
1  ork.     ^„t  one  of  the  committee  was  fully  satisfied  with  it  • 
yet,  as  the  ablest  speaker  from  ]\rassacliusetts  had  given  way' 
the  eoncession  was  inevitable.     Jt  stands  as  a  nmnmnent  thaj 
the  congress  harbored  no  desire   but  of   reconc[liation.     "I 
would  have  givni  even-thing  I  possessed  for  a  restoration  to 
t  -c  sta  e  oetore  the  contest  began,"  said  John  Adams,  at  a  later 
ckiy.     Ills   resolution   accq.te.l   that  ba.lge  of  servitude,   the 
l»ritisli  colonial  system. 

During  these  (liscussions,  Galloway  of  Pe.msvlvania,  in  se- 
cet  concert  with  the  governor  of  New  Jersey  and  ^vith  (^olden 
ot  Ncnv  Y)rk,  proposed  for  the  government  of  the  colonies  a 
m>sulent,gc>neral  of  the  king's  appointnxent,  and  a  grand  conn- 
ed to  be  chosen  once  in  three  years  by  the  several  assemblies. 


70 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III.;  cii.  IV. 


i|»i 


mi 


m 


ill 


111 


The  British  parliament  was  to  have  the  power  of  revising  the 
acts  of  this  body,  which  in  its  turn  Avas  to  have  a  negative  on 
British  statutes  relating  to  the  colonics.     "I  am  as  much  a 
friend  to  liberty  as  exists,"  blustered  Galloway,  as  he  presented 
his  insidious  proposition,   "and  no  man  shall  go  further  in 
point  of  fortune  or  in  point  of  blood  than  the  man  who  now 
addresses  you."     His  scheme  held  out  a  hope  of  a  continental 
union,  which  was  the  long-cherished  policy  of  New  York  ;  it 
was  seconded  by  Duane  and  supported  by  Jay,  but  opposed 
by  Lee  of  Virginia.      Patrick  Henry  objected  to  intrusting 
the  power  of  taxation  to  a  council  to  be  chosen  not  directly  by 
the  people,  but  indirectly  by  its  representatives  ;  and  he  con- 
demned the  proposal  in  all  its  aspects.     "  The  original  consti- 
tution of  the  colonics,"  said  he,  "  was  founded  on  the  broadest 
and  most  generous  base.     The  regulation  of  our  trade  compen- 
sates all  the  protection  we  ever  experienced.    We  shall  liberate 
our  constituents  from  a  corrupt  house  of  commons,  but  throw 
them  into  the  arms  of  an  American  legislature,  that  may  be 
bribed  by  a  nation  wliich  in  the  face  of  the  world  avows  bri- 
bery as  a  part  of  its  system  of  government.     Before  we  are 
obliged  to  pay  taxes  as  they  do,  let  us  be  as  free  as  they ;  let 
us  have  our  trade  open  with  all  the  world."    "  I  think  the  plan 
almost  perfect,"  said  Edward  Eutlcdge.     But  not  one  colony, 
unless  it  may  have  been  New  York,  voted  in  its  favor ;  no 
more  tliau  a  bare  majority  would  consent  that  it  should  even 
lie  on  the  table ;  and  at  a  later  day  congress  struck  the  pro- 
jiosal  from  its  record. 

With  this  defeat,  Galloway  lost  his  mischievous  importance. 
At  the  provincial  elections  in  Pennsylvania,  on  tlie  tirst  day  of 
October,  Dickinson,  his  old  opponent,  was  chosen  almost  unani- 
mously a  representative  of  the  county.  :Mifflin,  though  op- 
posed by  some  of  the  Quakers  as  too  warm,  was  elected  a  bur- 
gess of  Philadelphia  by  eleven  hundred  votes  out  of  thirteen 
hundred,  with  Charles  Thomson  as  his  colleague.  The  assem- 
bly, on  the  very  day  of  its  organization,  added  Dickinson  to  its 
delegation  in  congress;  and  he  took  his  seat  in  season  to 
draw  the  address  of  that  body  to  the  king. 

During  the  debates  on  the  proper  basis  of  that  address, 
letters  from  Boston  announced  that  the  governor  continued 


1774. 


THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  CONGRESS. 


71 

seizing  private  military  stores,  suffering  tlie  soldiery  "to  treat 
both  town  and  country  as  declared  enemies,"  fortifying  the 
towTiand  mounting  cannon  at  its  entrance,  as  though  he  would 
Jiold  Its  inhabitants  as  hostages  in  order  to  compel  u  com,,liance 
with  the  new  laws.     As  he  had  eluded  the  meeting  of  the  gen- 
eral court,  thoy  applied  to  congress  for  advice;  if  the  congress 
should  instruct  tiiem  to  quit  the  town,  they  would  obey      The 
citizens,  who  collectively  had  been  more  affluent  than  tiiose  of 
any  other  place  of  equal  numbers  in  the  world,  made  a  formal 
ofier  to  abandon  their  homes,  and  throw  themselves,  with  their 
wives  and  chiklron,  their  aged  and  infirm,  on  the  charity  of  the 
country  people,  or  build  huts  in  the  woods,  and  never  revisit 
their  native  walls  until  re-established  in  their  rights  and  liber- 
ies.    Gadsden  blazed  up  at  the  thought,  and  he  proposed  that 
Gage  should  be  attacked  and  routed  before  re-enforcements 
could  arrive;  but  the  congress  was  resolved  to  exhaust  every 
means  of  rcdrcs  before  sanctioning  an  appeal  to  a.ms. 

liic  inoi-G  impetuous  people  were  ever  inclined  to  break 

he  bounds  set  for  them.    About  the  middle  of  October,  the 

brig  Peggy  Stewart,  from  London,  arrived  at  AnnapoHs  ^vith 

^vo  thousand  tliree  hundred  and   twenty  pounds  of  tea,  on 

which  the  own.  o    the  vessel  made  haste  to  pay  the  duty 

tie  Si'  1  •  "T'f  r""'"^ '''''  voluntary  Amission  i 
«ie  British  chxm.,  which  their  delegates  to  the  general  congress 
were  engaged  m  contesting.  For  the  honor  of  the  provifce  a 
committee  kept  ^vatch  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  tea;  sue' 

tTertiim    ;  '"-^''^-^  '""  '''''''^'  ^^'^^  ^--  <^-^-t  'conn- 

t  es ,  till  tl,.  two  importers  and  the  ship-owner  jointly  expressed 

he.  contrition,  and  offered  to  expiate  their  offence  by  ^ 

When  •  "^t     -^-^  J-^  -used  their  misconduct^ 

When  It  appeared  that  this  would  not  satisfy  the  crowd,  the 
omier  of  the  br.g,  after  a  little  consultation  with  Charles  Car- 
le entJ"?  '"  T  ''"*  ''''  ''  '^'  ^'^™^^-  The  offer  was 
accepted  The  penitent  importers  and  owmcr  went  on  board 
he  vessel  .ith  hats  off  and  lighted  torches  in  their  hands,  .^c^ 
n  the  preso-ac3  of  a  multitude  of  gazers,  set  fire  to  the  pack 
ages  of  tea,  all  ..f  which,  together  with  ^he  Peggy  Stewar 
her  canvas  and  cordage,  were  consumed.  "^  ' 

Washington  ardently  wished  to  end  civil  discord  and  re- 


J 


7^W  "'"'•■■■* 


^i  i: 


iiH: 


72 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  IV. 


Store  tran(iiilllity  upou  constitutional  grounds,  but  liis  indigna- 
tion at  thu  wi'ongs  of  IJoston  could  bo  ai)i)easc'd  only  by  their 
redress,  and  his  i)uri)ose  to  resist  the  execution  of  the  regulat- 
ing act  was  unalterable.     "  Permit  nie,"  so  he  addressed  a 
-British  officer  then  serving  under  Gage,  "  with  the  freedom  of 
a  friend,  to  express  m^  sorrow  that  fortune  should  ])lace  you  in 
a  service  that  must  fix  curses  to  the  latest  posterity  upon  the 
contrivers,  and,  if  success  (which,  by  the  by,  is  impossible)  ac- 
companies it,  execrations  upon  all  those  who  have  been  instru- 
mental in  the  execution.     The  Massachusetts  people  are  every 
day  receiving  fresh  proofs  of  a  systematic  assertion  of  an  arbi- 
trary power,  deeply  planned  to  overturn  the  laws  and  consti- 
tution of  their  country,  and  to  violate  the  most  essential  and 
valuable  rights  of  mankind.     It  is  not  the  wish  of  that  govern- 
nient,  or  any  otlier  upon  this  continent,  sepai-ately  or  collec- 
tively, to  set  up  for  independence ;  but  none  of  them  will  ever 
submit  to  the  loss  of  those  rights  and  ]jrivileges  without  which 
life,  liberty,  and  property  are  rendered  totally  insecure.     Is  it 
to  be  wondered  at  that  men  attempt  to  avert  the  impending 
blow  in  its  progress,  or  prepare  for  their  defence  if  it  cannot 
be  averted  i     (xive  me  leave  to  add  as  my  opinion,  that,  if  the 
ministry  are  determined  to  push  matters  to  extremity,  more 
blood  will  be  spilled  on  this  occasion  than  history  has  ever  yet 
furnished  instances  of  in  the  annals  of  Xoi-th  Amejica." 

Ross,  a  Pennsylvanian,  moved  in  congress  that  Massachu- 
setts should  be  left  to  her  own  discretion  with  respect  to  gov- 
ernment, and  the  administration  of  justice  as  well  as  defence. 
The  motion  was  seconded  by  Galloway,  in  the  hope  of  insulat- 
ing her.  Had  it  been  adopted,  she  would  have  revived  her 
first  charter,  under  the  Pine  Tree  flag  of  her  forefathers,  and 
elected  her  governor.  I'rom  the  desire  of  conciliation  the 
province  was  suffered  to  continue  in  a  state  of  anarchy ;  but 
on  the  eiglith  of  October  it  was  resolved,  though  not  nnani- 
mously,  "  that  this  congress  approve  the  opposition  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  execution  of  the  late 
acts  of  parliament,  and,  if  the  same  shall  be  attempted  to  be 
carried  into  execution  by  force,  all  Aineriea  ought  to  support 
them  in  their  ojiposition."     This  is  the  vote  which  hardened 

Galloway  and  Duane  de- 


George  III.  to  listen  to  uu  terms. 


%} 


1774. 


THE  FIRST  AMERICAN   CONGRESS. 


73 


sired  leave  to  enter  their  protests  arrain^t  the  resohition,  and  as 
this  was  refilled,  they  gave  to  eaeli  other  prhately  certiHcates 
that  they  had  opposed  .t  as  treasonable.  Two  days  later,  con- 
gress further  "declared  that  every  person  who  should  accept 
or  act  under  any  eonunission  or  authority  derived  from  the  act 
of  parhament  which  violated  the  charter  of  Massachusetts, 
ouglit  to  be  hehl  ,n  detestation  ;  "  and,  in  their  letter  to  Gage 
thc^y  censured  his  conduct  as  tending  "  to  involve  a  free  people 
in  the  horrors  of  war."  ^ 

In  adopting  a  declaration  of  rights,  the  division  which  had 
shown  ,tsel     ,n  the  committee  was  renewed.     "Here,"  said 
AV  ard  of  Lhodo  Island,   "  no  acts  of  parlianaent  can  bind. 
Giving  up  this  point  is  yielding  all."     Against  him  spoke 
John  Adams  and  Duane.     "A  right,"  said  Lynch,  "to  bind 
us  m  one  case  may  imply  a  right  to  bind  us  in  all;  but  we  are 
bound  m  nom>."     The  resolution  of  concession  was  arrested  by 
«ie  vote  o.  hve  colonies  against  five,  with  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Ls^^uKl  divukd,  but  at  last  was  carried  by  the  influence 
of  John  Adams.     Dnane  desired  next  to  strike  the  Quebec  act 
Irom  the  list  ot  grievances;  but  of  all  the  bad  acts  of  parlia- 
ment, Richard  Henry  Lee  pronounced  it  the  worst.     His  opin- 
ion prevailed  upon  a  vote  which  Duane's  reluctant  adhesion 
made  unanimous.     Thus  eleven  acts  of  parliament  or  parts  of 
acts,  including  the  Quebec  act  and  the  acts  specially  a  fecting 
Massachusetts,  were  declared  to  be  such  in  rinc^cmc'its  a  f 
violations  of  the  rights  of  the  colonies  that  the  repe  Ith'n 
was  essentially  necessary,  in  order  to  restore  harmony  between 
the  colonies  and  Great  Britain.  o.tween 

The  congress  had  unanimously  resolved  from  the  first  day 
of  le  commg  December  not  to  import  any  merchandise  iZ 
Great  Britam  and  Ireland.     They  could  not  agree  upon  an  im^ 

should  be  delayed  beyond  the  tenth  day  of  September  of  the 
fo  owing  year  a  resolution  to  export  no  merchandise  to  Gi-e^^ 
Bntam,  Ireland,  and  the  West  Lidies  after  that  date  was  car 
ned,  but  against  the  voice  of  South  Carolina.     ^V^t^:^ 
bers  proceeded  to  bind  themselves  to  these  m.  snres  ly  fna 
sociation,  three  of  the  dele-.t-s  of  tint  o,^  ,.        f     \    , 
nsimns      i'Ti  uLiL^^.u.s  01  tJiat  coiouy  refused  their 

names.       The  agreement  to  stop  exports  to  Great  Britain  is 


I  ' 


m 


^]i 


m 


71  AMKIJK'A  AUMH   K()|i  .SKIK  hKKKNCI.:. 


I  !••  til.  ;  (111,  IV. 


"i";'l"='l.  n.„s.M,.Ml  \lu\U.\^r;  "  N\.w  Knnh,,!  hImmh  li((|,.  ..r 
nollMn,.,l,.-iv,  Im.I  H.n.ls  lisli,  i(s  pval  m(m,.|..  ,„  IN,,.,,,,,,  „, 
>'>paui  ;  NuMll.  Caivlina  „„,„„||v  ,,,i,„   ,,•,.,.  ,„  ,,;,,^.,^^^^^,   ^^^  ^,^^^ 

valmM.lniuillionM.Hlahairor.lulhus.  N,,,-  KM.h„i.l  w...,l.| 
''^'."'^7';;'    '•'"    '""''    '•>""•    l"-nlul.ilioi,;('„-uli,a   Nv.Mihl    Ik, 

'""""'•''      ''''''''••'''''l'^^''<'II'i^^n.lK.:,..,u.Muillulr,.u   IVoiu  III., 
••OII-1V..S.     ( i;Hls,|,.„,  uIh,  n..v,.r  ,,„im(.m|  (|,r  ,..„(  ,,1  ,,a(ri..fis.n 
'•'""""."••«»    ".   his  |.l:..v,  aii.l,  fn,,s|i,,..to|lu.  ^...nm.sifv  ..f  l.is 
n>"«l.lMri.l,s  ,|.vl:.iv.|  |.i,„s..|r  iv:ulv  tosio-,,  (|...  assonalio,,      All 
l.us.nt.ss  was  inirrniph-.l   for  M-vu-al  ,lavs,  uhm  ,.on..,v,ss  .v 


'':'"'"'  "'''  ''^''''^'•'''••^  ''.V  ='iiou,„;..  II,..  ,mr,.M,|iii„„al  c-.x,,„rt,  of 
rice.  ' 

Tlu'    :iss,uMa(ioM     fuMh.T   a.In|.|..,|    w[(|,.„i(     ..nnosili,,,,    (I 

""'""*'•''''*'  ''"^■•■"■""    "'"■<•'-    i":ni.;-,ira(.M|   ||,..  alu '  ,1,., 

iiii|>'"'<  iioi-  |>iirclias('  ;:mv  slavu 


M 


It: 

isiiiir 


f^la\i>liM.I.-:  "  \V,>  will    iicillicr 

;:"l-<-l  :''•'>••;  'I-  lirst  ,lav<,i'  Uc.nuhc;  nrZ^fi^  M^ 
''''"^^•^'^^■''' "■''•'''>•  •'i'^'-'''i>'>u-li.r.slav.-lrailr,a.i.l  will  UUcv 
'";;'""^'^''''"''l  '"  "  o..rs.Kvs.  Moi-  w.ll  wr  l.i.v  <.,„•  svs-  ■!.  nor 
s^'ll  o„r  .■o!uui,.,IIti..s  or  nunnla.-hnvsto  thus,,  wli,.  nv  nm- 
tvnuMl  ill  it."' 

;riiisli.s|  .\,„on,.:n.,.o,m'.vss  |„-o,iuI,(  ford,  ;n,o(lu-r  mramnv 
wind.  wa.  wKlu.ut    an   oxain,,|..      |,    nvoo,,isr.l   (1,.   polifu-al 

''"";-""•'="" •i'v-ni'.-l-Tl.".     Wl.il.iMvlWdto   ,.(i,io 

l-aHunuMit,  i(  aU.ln-ss  Hi  (ho  pooplo  of  flu-  ,>rovin..s  f, t  Nov 

NvhatoMorMa,  Ih.  ,>oo,,lo  ..f  Cana.la,  llir  ,,oo,,|,.  of  (j.va 
'"•"^'"»,  ...akin-  iho  prinii,,^  ,„vss  its  ani'.assa.lor  (.>  tlu-  risin. 
powor. 

'I'"  "n>  llrMlsl,  p,o,.K.  wl.oM.  Ilu.v  .losrriluHl  as  liavin-  Invn 
"7'  '^'P^"^'"H-s  In-  ihc  han.l  of  IUhmIv,"  an.i  as  "hoirsto  ih,. 
n.^-.ts  ot    ,„.„;•  thov   said,  in    thr  lanpu.nv  of  ,lav:  "Know 
1'^'    ^vo  c.onsi.I.r  ...irs.fvos,  aiul  do  insist  that  wo  a.vian.l  ou-l.t 
f>>   lH«.  as    tnv  as  our  lVlIow-snI>j,vts   in    llritaiu,  and  that.'no 
'"'^'"'  ^"'  "'"f''  ''^'^  ^'  "■'.^•!'f  '"  'alv.-  >..,r  property   from  us  with- 
;""  onrcons.,,,.      IVIor  to  tho  ora."  of  1  7,1;;,  .^  vou   wo.v  c-on- 
t^'.it  wall  w.alt!.  pnuhuvd  l>y  our  .ouinu-r.v.     'v<,u  ivsm.i.u.d 
our  trado  u,  ovorv  wav  that  could  c-ondn,v  t..  vour  cMn..lnnu>nt. 
\  on  t>xoivisi>d  unl.oundrd  sovoroi-nt  v  ovor  t  fu'  s  -a  "       VsstMit 
n.ii-  to  tlKvs.Mvstric.tlons,  thoy  don.onsh-af.d  that  a  vidorv  ov.r 
tl.o  no.h„  ot   Anu'rica  would  nut  only  he  l.arron  of  advanta-^. 


f 


1771. 


TIIK   FIKHT   AMKIJICAN   CONCIJKHH. 


75 


t..  ho  Ki,,.|,.sl,  Million,  l.ut  .•...■rv:,H,.  fli.-ir  ,,„I.Ii<MK.l,f,,  pc.t.Mium.rH 
im.l  |.h(M-n.cM,  <linii„ish  M...ir  n.nmurcc,  n.ul  h-ud  t<,  ih,.  over' 
tiir<nv  ..I  (l„.ir  lilHTtiiM  hy  vlolci.co  uri<l  (M,rni|.tioM.     N,,,  ,ii,| 
tlio  (IcsciMKliiMl,  (.r  IIii^nHMK.ts  fail  (o  inako  for  tluMri  an  anpcil 
an  IVuh-staiits  to   iVofcsfa.it,  S,-.,||an,l  and  Kn-land.     Fii.allv 
t  ...y  Haul :  ''To  yuuv  jn.slico  w„  appeal.      V„„  ]„v.  I.c.-n  told 
t  ml  wo  am  .n.p.lic.nt  of  >r,.yevmuna  and  .I.-sin,,,.  of  indc-p,.,.. 
<l>'n<-.y.      Ihcso  aro  (•:ih„„ni,.s.     i'.nnit  ns  f<,  l.o  a.s  frc,(>  as  y!,,,,- 
«olvc..,  and  w..  .shall  c-vcr  .stcu-.n  a  union  with  yon  to  I,"  <,nr 
givatost  j,dory  and  our  g,vat..,st  happiuosM.     Hut  if  y<,„  aro  <lo- 
'"';;""•;'  f''^"^  .>•'>•"■   >'.iui,s(rr,s  Hlmll    wantonly  .port  with   tho 
..,,'ht.s  ol  .n.nkn.d;  .f  uoithrr  tho  voir-o  of  j„stioo,  tho  diotates 
ot  law,  thr  pnnc-ipirs  of  tho  .-on.slitution,  or  (I.,-  .su^^ovsliouH  of 
'"....amly,  .an  rostrain  your  la.ndH  fron.  sh.Mldin^-  hun.an  hloo<l 
">•  Huch  an  in.p.ouH  oau.o,  wo  must  thou  toll  y<,u  that  avc  will 
iuH-orsnl.„.,t(olH,howors  of  wood  or  <h-awors  of  watcT  for 
imy  mnnstry  or  nation  in  tho  world.'' 

A  sooond  o.»n-ross  was  app.,intod  for  ^r:.v  of  tho  noxt  voar 
atwhu-h  all  (ho  ,,oloniosof  Norlh   An.mca,  indudin^^  Nova 
N^ot.:.  and      anada,  woro  invilod  to  app.ar  l,y  Ih.ir  <leputios. 
Iho  nltnnato  <h>o,s,on  of   A.norioa  w...  thou    in.hodiod  in  a 
petition  to  th.    Mn^s  writton   hy  Didun.on,  and  ind.uod  in 
ovory  I. no  with  a  .h-siro  for  oonoiliufion.     I,,  tho  list  of  ijriov- 
mu'os,  oonuToss  onun.oratod  (ho  statutes,  and  thoso  only,  whioh 
''•"I  Ih;^"  '•"aot.-d  si„,e  tho  yoar   ITd-'J  for  (ho  wry  purposo  of 
H'nn.i^n.i,^  H.o  oonstituti.M,  or  tho  adn.inistration  of  "tho  oolonios 
I'c.v    lUst.luHl  thoir  disoontont  hy  historio  tradition,  and  by 
"';■   '<  ea^  of    ri^W.t.     "So  far  f,on.  pron.otin:^   innovations'' 
saul   (hoy   trnlv,  ''v.  havo  only  opposed  then.;    and  eau'  he 
(•harj^nHl  with  no  oin^nee,  uido.ss  it  ho  one  to  rooeivo  iniurios 
I'ml  h.  sons.Mo  of  ,hen,"     A,,p,iosoin^  in  tho  rostriotiol.s  on 
HMr  ship,  an,   nuh.stry,  thoy  profosso<l  ••  ^oadinoss  ozi  tho  part 

0  thon.lonial  K-.slaturos  to  n.ako  su^uw.lo  provision  for  tho 
a.l.nm.strafon  of  justioo,  tho  support  of  civil  ^n>vonunont,  and 

01  w  u,  thoy  pledo-ed  the  colonies  to  -  n.ost  strenuous  olforts  in 
grantino.  supplies  and  raisin-  forcos."  JJut  tho  privik-e  of 
t^u.s    oxpressiui.    thoir    alTootionato  attaolunont    thoy   would 

never  resign  to  any  body  of  men  upon  earth."     "  We  ask  " 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SB0 

(716)  872-4503 


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76  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  m. ;  en.  it. 

thoy  continued,  "  but  for  peace,  liberty,  and  safety.  We  wish 
not  a  dlniinution  of  the  prerogative,  nor  the  grant  of  any  new 
riglit.  Your  royal  authority  over  us,  and  our  connection  with 
Great  Britain,  we  shall  always  support  and  maintain;"  and 
they  besought  of  the  king,  "as  the  loving  father  of  his  whole 
people,  his  interposition  for  their  relief  and  a  gracious  answer 
to  their  petition." 

From  complacency  toward  Rockingham,  they  passed  over 
the  declaratory  act  in  silence;  and  they  expressed  their  assent 
to  the  power  of  regulating  commerce.     But  the  best  evidence 
of  their  sincerity  is  found  in  the  measure  which  they  recom- 
mended.    Had  independence  been  their  object,  they  woiild 
have  strained  every  nerve  to  increase  their  exports  and  fill  the 
country  in  return  with  the  manufactures  and  munitions  which 
they  required.     The  suspension  of  trade  was  the  most  disin- 
terested manner  of  expressing  to  the  mother  country  how 
deeply  tliey  felt  their  wrongs,  and  how  earnestly  they  desired 
a  peaceful  restoration  of  reciprocal  confidence.     While  Britain 
found  another  market  for  her  surplus  manufactures  and  India 
goods,  the  American  merchant  sacrificed  nea-ly  his  whole  busi- 
ness     The  exchequer  might  perhaps  suffer  some  diminution 
in  the  revenue  from  tobacco,  but  the  planters  of  Maryland  and 
Vn-gmia  gave  up  the  entire  exchangeable  produce  of  their  es- 
tates.    The  cessation  of  the  export  of  provisions  to  the  West 
Indies,  of  flaxseed  to  Ireland,  injured  the  northern  provinces 
very  deeply;  and  yet  it  would   touch  only  the  British  mer- 
cliants  who  had  debts  to  collect  in  the  West  Indies  or  Ireland 
or  the  English  owners  of  West  Indian  or  Irish  estates.     Every 
refusal  to  import  was  made  by  the  colonist  at  the  cost  of  per- 
sonal comfort  ;  every  omission  to  export  was  a  waste  of  his  re- 
sources.    Moreover,  no  means  existed  of  enforcing-  the  agree- 
ment ;  so  that  the  truest  patriots  would  suffer  most!    And  yet 
the  ])eople  so  yearned  for  a  bloodless  restoration  of  the  old 
relations  with  Britain  that  they  cheerfully  entered  on  the  ex- 
periment, in  the   hope  that  the  extreme  self-denial  of  the 
country  would  distress  British  commerce  enough  to  brinrr  the 
government  to  reflection.  * 

But,  since  the  efforts  to  avert  civil  war  might  fail,  John 
Adams  was  anxious  to  see  New  England  provided  with  "cash 


THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  CONGRESS. 


and  gunpowder."     Ward  of  Rhode  Island  foretold  that  Amer- 
ica was   to  light  all  the  nations  of   the   earth   to  freedom 
'Were  I  to  suffer  as  a  rebel  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty 
should  I  not  be  translated  immediately  to  heaven  as  Enoch  was 
of  old?''  wrote  Hewes  of  North  Carolina.      Samuel  Adams 
urged  his  friends  to  .tudy  the  art  of  war,  and  organize  re- 
sistance.    -I  would  advise,"  said  he,  "persisting  in  our  strug- 
gle though  It  .vere  revealed  from  heaven  that  nine  hundred 
and  nmetjMHne  were  to  perish,  and  only  one  of  a  thousand  to 
survive  and  retain  his  liberty.     One  such  freeman  must  pos- 
sess more  virtue  and  enjoy  more  happiness  than  a  thousand 
slaves;  and  let  liim  propagate  his  like,  and  transmit  to  them 
what  he  hath  so  nob^  preserved."     "  Delightful  as  peace  is  " 
said  I);ckinson,  « it  will  come  more  grateful  by  being  unex- 
pected."   Washington  foresaw  that  the  measures  of  congress 
would  not  prove  effectual.     When  Patrick   Henry  read  the 
words  of  Ilawley,  -  After  all,  we  raust  fight,"  he  raised  his 
hand,  ana  called  God  to  witness  as  he  cried  out:  "I  am  of 
that  man's  mind." 


I'  ''  '\: 


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i 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  cil.  V. 


CHAPTER  y. 

HOW    BRITAIN    BEGAN    CATHOLIC    EMANCIPATION,    AND    HOW   VIE- 
GINIA   NULLIFIED   THE   QUEBEC   ACT. 

OCTOBER-ISTOVEJ^IBEK    1774. 

The  congress  of  1774  contained  statesmen  of  tlie  highest 
order  of  wisdom.  For  eloquence,  Patrick  Henry  was  unri- 
valled ;  next  to  him  in  debate  stood  the  elder  Eutledge,  of 
South  Carolina ;  "  but,  if  you  speak  of  solid  information  and 
sound  judgment,"  said  Patrick  Plenry,  "Washington  is  un- 
questionably the  greatest  man  of  them  all." 

While  the  delegates  of  the  twelve  colonies  were  in  session 
in  Philadelphia,  ninety  of  the  members  just  elected  to  the 
Massachusetts  assembly  appeared  on  Wednesday,  the  fifth  of 
October,  at  the  court-house  in  Salem.  After  waiting  two  days 
for  the  governor,  they  passed  judgment  on  his  unconstitutional 
proclamation  against  their  meeting ;  and,  resolving  themselves 
into  a  provincial  congress,  they  adjourned  to  Concord.  There, 
on  the  eleventli,  the  members,  about  two  hundred  and  sixty  in 
number,  elect(;d  John  Hancock  their  president.  On  the  four- 
teenth, they  sent  a  message  to  the  governor,  that  for  want  of  a 
general  assembly  they  had  convened  in  congress ;  and  they 
remonstrated  against  his  hostile  preparations.  A  committee 
from  Worcester  county  made  to  him  similar  representations. 

To  the  provincial  congress,  which  had  again  adjourned 
from  Concord  to  Cambridge,  Gage  made  answer  by  recrimina- 
tions. They  were  surrounded  by  difficulties.  A  committee, 
appointed  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  October  to  consider  the 
proper  time  to  provide  a  stock  of  powder,  ordnance,  and  ord- 
nance stores,  reported  on  the  same  day  that  the  proper  time 
waa  come.     Upon  the  debate  for  raising  money  to  prepare 


im.      TUE  QUEBEC  ACT  OF  PARLIAMENT.        79 

for  the  crisis,  one  member  proposed  to  appropriate  a  thousand 
pounds,  another  two  thousand;  a  committee  reports!  a  sum  of 
less  tlian  ninety  thousand  dollars  as  a  preparation  against  a 
most  wealthy  and  warlike  empire.  They  elected  three  general 
ofhcers  by  ballot.  A  committee  of  safety,  Hancock  and  War- 
ren bemg  of  the  number,  was  invested  with  power  to  alam 
and  muster  the  militia  of  the  province,  of  whom  one  fourth 
were  to  liold  themselves  ready  to  march  at  a  minute's  notice 

In  Connecticut,  wliich,  from  its  compactness,  numbers,  and 
wealth,  was  second  only  to  Massachusetts  in  military  resources 
the  legislature  of  177i  provided  for  effectively  organizing  the 
mihtia,  prohibited  the  importation  of  slaves,  and  ordered  the 
several  towns  to  provide  double  the  usual  quantity  of  powder 
ball,  and  flu^ts.  They  directed  the  issue  of  fifteen  thousand 
pounds  in  bills  of  credit  of  the  colony,  and  made  a  small  in- 
crease of  the  taxes.  This  was  the  first  issue  of  paper  money 
m  the  colonics  preparatory  to  war. 

The  congress  of  Massaclmsetts,  in  like  manner,  directed 
the  people  of  the  province  to  perfect  tliemselves  in  military 
skill,  and  each  town  to  provide  a  full  stock  of  arms  and  ammu- 
nition.    Having  voted  to  pay  no  more  money  to  the  royal  eol- 
ector,  they  chose  a  receiver-general  of  their  own,  and  instituted 
a  system  of  provincial  taxation.     They  appointed  executive 
comim^eos  of  safety,  of  correspondence'  axS  of  sun^UoTTs 
he    ontmental  congress  would  not  sanction  their  resuming  the 
chai-ter  from  Charles  I.,  they  adhered  as  nearly  as  possible  to 
hat  gi-anted  by  William  and  Mary;  and  sumiLed   h    coun- 
tWo  ^^f  ^^f  ^^"-^-  «-t  eJ-ter,  to  give  attendance  on 

Z!Z\^  .  """f  '"'''^^^  '^'^  ""^'"''^  '^^^  considera- 

tion of  the  propriety  of  sending  agents  to  Canada. 

The  troubles  with  the  thirteen  colonies  led  the  court  of  Great 
Bn^intoits  first  step  in  the  emancipation  of  Catholics ;  and 
w  th  no  higlier  object  m  view  than  t.  strengthen  the  autW; 
of  tho  king  m  America,  the  Quebec  act  of  17U  began  that 
senesof  concessions  which  at  last  opened  the  Eritisf  pa  lia 
ment  and  the  high  offices  of  administration  to  "papists '' 

In  the  belief  that  the  loyalty  of  its  possessions  had  been 
promoted  by  a  dread  of  the  French  settlements  on  their  north" 


m  • 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR   SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. ;  on.  V. 


era  and  western  frontier,  B-itain  sotiglit  to  create  under  its 
own  auspices  a  distinct  empire,  suited  to  restrain  lier  original 
colonies  from  aspiring  to  independence.     For  this  cud,  it  an- 
nexed by  act  of  parliament  to  the  province  which  was  called 
Quebec  all  the  territory  north-west  of  the  Ohio,  as  far  as  the 
Mississippi  river  and  thence  to  the  head  of  Lake  Superior ;  and 
consolidated  all  authority  over  this  boundless  region  in  the 
hands  of  the  executive  power  of  Great  Britain.     The  Catho- 
lics were  not  displeased  that  the  promise  of  a  representative 
assembly  was  not  kept.     In  1703,  tliey  had  all  been  disfran- 
chised in  a  land  where  there  were  few  Protestants,  except 
attendants  on  the  army  and  govermnent  officials.     A  repre- 
sentative assembly,  to  v.hich  none  but  Protestants  could  be 
chosen,  would  have  subjected  almost  all  the  inhabitants  to  a 
resident  oligarchy,  hateful  by  their  race  and  religion,  their  su- 
premacy as  conquerors,  and  their  selfishness.     The  Quebec  act 
authorized  the  crown  to  confer  posts  of  honor  and  of  business 
upon  Tatholics ;  and  they  chose  rather  to  depend  on  the  clem- 
ency of  the  king  than  to  have  an  exclusively  Protestant  parlia- 
ment, like  that  of  Ireland.     This  Hmited  politic  d  toleration 
left  no  room  for  the  sentiment  of  patriotism.     The  French 
Canadians  of  that  day  could  not  persuade  themselves  that  they 
had  a  country.    They  would  have  desired  an  assembly  to  which 
they  should  bo  eligible ;  but,  since  that  was  not  to  be  obtained, 
they  accepted  their  partial  enfranchisement  by  the  king,  as  a 
boon  to  a  conquered  people. 

The  owners  of  estates  were  gratified  by  the  restoration 
of  the  French  system  of  law.  The  Englisii  emigrants  might 
mplain  of  the  want  of  jury  trials  in  civil  processes;  but 
the  French  Canadians  were  grateful  for  relief  from  statutes 
which  they  did  not  comprehend,  and  from  the  chicanery  of 
unfamiliar  courts.  The  nobility  of  New  France,  who  had  ever 
been  accustomed  to  arms,  were  still  further  conciliated  by  the 
proposal  to  enroll  Canadian  battalions,  in  which  they  could 
hold  commissions  on  equal  terms  with  EngHsh  ofticers. 

The  capitulation  of  New  France  had  guaranteed  to  the 
clergy  freedom  of  public  worship ;  by  the  Quebec  act  they 
were  confirmed  in  the  possession  of  their  ancient  churches  and 
their  revenues ;  so  that  the  Roman  Catholic  worship  was  as 


1774.  THE  QUEBEC  ACT  OF  PARLIAMENT.  gl 

effectually  cstablislied  in  Canada  as  tlio  Pres])jtenan  cluircli  in 
Scotland.     When  Carleton  returned  to  his  government,  bear- 
ing this  great  measure  oi  concih'ation  of  wliicli  ho  was  known 
to  have  been  tlie  adviser,  ho  was  welcomed  by  tlic  Catholic 
bishop  and  priests  of  Quebec  with  professions  of  loyalty  and 
the  memory  of  Thurlow  and  Weddcrbuni,  who  carried  the  act 
through  parliament,  is  gratefully  embalmed  in  Canadian  his- 
tory,    let  the  clergy  wore  conscious  that  the  concession  of 
these  privileges  was  but  an  act  of  worldly  policy,  mainly  duo 
to  the  disturbed  state  of  the  Protestant  colonies.      For  the 
cause  of  Great  Britain,  Catholic  Canada  could  not  uplift  the 
banner  of  the  King  of  heaven  or  seek  the  perils  of  martyrdom 
feuch  was  the  frame  of  mind  of  the  French  Canadians  when 
tbe  American  congress  sent  among  them  its  appeal.    The  time 
was  come  for  applying  the  new  principle  of  the  power  of  the 
people  to  the  old  divisions  in  Christendom  between  the  Catho- 
lic and  the  Protestant  world.     The  Catholic  church  asserts  the 
unity    the  universality,  and  the  nnchangcableness  of  tnith  • 
and  this  principle  rather  demands  than  opposes  universal  eman- 
cipation and  brotherhood.     Yet  Protestantism,  in  the  sphere  of 
pol-tics  had  hitherto  been  the  representative  of  that  increase 
of  popular  liberty  which  had  grown  out  of  free  inquirv,  while 
the  Catholic  church,  under  the  early  induencc  of  Romanlawand 
the  temporal  sovereignty  of  the  Roman  pontiff,  had  inclinr*^  to 
moiiarclucal  power     These  relations  were  now  to  be  modified. 
The  thir  eon  colonies  were  all  Protestant;  even  in  Mary- 
and  the  Catholics  formed  scarcely  an  eighth,  perhaps  not  more 
thana  twelith  part  of  the  population  ;  their  presence  in  other 
provinces,  except  Pennsylvania,  was  hardly  perceptible.     The 
members  of  congress  had  not  wholly  purged  themselves  of 
Piotestant  bigotry.     In  their  address  to  the  people  of  Great 
iiritam,  it  was  even  said  that  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  had 
dispersed  mipiety,  bigotry,  persecution,  murder,  and  rebellion 
through  every  part  of  the  world."    But  the  desire  of  including 
Canada   in  tlie   confederacy    compelled    the    Protestants    of 
America  to  ex  end  the  principle  of  religious  equality  and  free- 

0    thepovmcoof  Quebec,  drawn  by  Dickinson,  all  old  reli- 
gious jealousies  were  condemned  a.  low-minded  infirmities; 


82 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  on.  V. 


UH 


and  the  Swiss  ciintons  were  cited  as  examples  of  a  uuioii  com- 
posed of  C.'atliolic  and  Protestant  states. 

After  a  clear  analysis  of  the  (^iiehec  act,  and  the  contrast 
of  its  provisions  with  English  liberties,  the  shade  of  Montes- 
quieu was  evoked  as  saying  to  the  Canadians  :  "  The  happiness 
of  a  people  inevitably  depends  on  theh  liberty,  and  their  spirit 
to  assert  it.  The  value  and  extent  of  the  advantages  tendered 
to  you  are  immense.  This  work  is  not  of  man ;  yon  have  been 
conquered  into  liberty,  if  you  act  as  you  ought.  Seize  the  op- 
portunity presented  to  you  by  Providence  itself.  You  are  a 
small  people,  compared  to  those  who  with  open  arms  invite 
you  into  a  fellowship.  The  injuries  of  Boston  have  roused  and 
associated  every  colony  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Georgia.  Your 
province  is  the  only  link  wanting  to  complete  the  blight  and 
strong  chain  of  nuion.  Nature  has  joined  your  country  to 
theirs;  do  you  join  your  political  interests;  for  their  own 
sakes,  they  never  will  desert  or  betray  you." 

Whether  the  unanimous  invitation  of  congress  to  the  Cana- 
dians to  "  accede  to  their  confederation  "  should  bo  accepted  or 
repelled,  the  old  feud  between  members  of  tlie  Eoman  Catholic 
church  and  the  free  governments  which  had  sjn-ung  from  Pro- 
testantism was  coming  to  an  end. 

The  r.ttempt  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  Quebec  to  the 
Ohio  river  was  rcsi.sted  by  the  older  colonies,  especially  by 
Virginia ;  and  the  interest  of  the  crown  officers  in  the  adjacent 
provinces  was  at  variance  with  the  policy  of  parliament. 

Lord  Dunmore  had  reluctantly  left  New  York,  where,  dur- 
ing his  short  career,  he  had  acquired  fifty  thousand  acres  of 
land,  and,  as  chancellor,  was  preparing  to  decide  in  his  own 
court,  in  his  own  favor,  a  large  and  unfounded  claim  which  he 
had  preferred  against  the  lieutenant-governor.  Upon  entering 
on  the  government  of  Virginia,  his  passion  for  land  and  fees 
outweighing  the  proclamation  of  the  king  and  reiterated  and 
most  positive  instructions  from  the  secretary  of  state,  he  sup- 
ported the  claims  of  the  colony  to  the  AYest,  and  was  a  partner 
in  two  immense  purchases  of  land  from  the  Indians  in  south- 
em  Illinois.  In  1773,  his  agents,  the  Bullets,  made  surveys  at 
the  falls  of  the  Ohio;  and  parts  of  Louisville  and  of  the  towns 
opposite  Cincinnati  are  now  held  under  his  warrant. 


1774. 


THE  QTOBEO  ACT   OF   PARUAMENT. 


S3 

Pite»I».rs  formed  tl.e  rallying  point  for  wctcrn  cmisration 
and  In.J„„,  tradn.      t  ,v»  a  part  of  tl,e  county  of  Wostol™ 
and,  n,  Penn»y  vania.     Suddenly,  and  withont  proper  nofeo 
to  1,0  coune,  of  that  province,  Dnnmore  extended  his  in  i™ 
d.et,on  over  the  wol|.pc.,pled  region.     11„  fo„„d  a  willing™ 
«  rnment  m  one  John  Connolly,  a  native  of  Pennsylvanl  a 
p..ys,e,a„,  and-jol,l,er,  and  «„l,.,ervient  political  intriier,  who 
had  travelled  nrneh  in  the  Ohio  valley  both  by  ,fater  T„d 
an       Co„,n,i.,sioned  by  Dnn.nore  as  eUin^eoLnandan  of 
I  .te^bnrg  and  ,t»  dependeneies,  that  is  to  say,  of  all  the  west 
em  country,  Connolly  opened  the  year  177*  with  a  p  ^eC 
^on  of  Ins  anthority,  and  directed  a  n™ster  of  the  miul 
Ihe  western  people,  especially  the  emigrants  from  Maryland 
and  y,rgnn.a,  spurning  tl,e  n,oek  tenets  of  tho  Quakers  T„. 
chned  to  l,e  nsurpation.    The  measures  of  the  gove mor'and 
councl  0    Pennsylvania  in  support  of  their  n^,Z,no'o 
passionately  resented  as  a  personal  insult,  and  would  neiZ 
hsten    o  .rrofragable  arg,n„ents.  nor  to  candid  oifc.  of  ^l 

ouLlT    '""TIT'''  ""'•  '°  "'"  l""^™"'  my'oMor. 
ot  t«o  ot  tho  council  of  Pennsylvania. 

Virginia  avoided  strife  with  her  great  neighbor,  Pcnnsyl- 
vama;  hut  she  applauded  Dunmore  when  he  set  at  naught  he 
Quebec  Act,  and  Kept  possession  of  the  government  and  right 
to  grant  ands  on  the  Scioto,  the  AVabasb,  and  the  Illinf 
South  of  the  Ohio  river,  Franklin's  inchoate  province  of  Van! 
daha  stretched  from  the  Alleghanies  to  Kentucky  river -the 

UhTLt  tT  Tr^  ""J""'^"''  ^-^S""'^  '>y  tl/Ten>o;s* 
■  the  t  eaty  at  Locha her  carried  its  limit  only  to  the  mouth  of  the 

m  u  t"tl  V  ^,  "■'  '™8'^  ''"'™""'-  -""'-d  -"l" 
ment  to  the  east  of  the  mountains.  There  was  no  one,  there- 
fore, having  authority  to  give  a  title  to  any  land  west  of  the 
AlLghanias,  or  power  to  restrain  the  restlessness  of  the  Ameri- 
can emigrants.    With  the  love  of  wandering  that  formed  a 

iC  shirt  Td  ",  "T ••  *'?  ''""^  l»*woodsman,  clad  in  a  hunt- 
ug-slmt  and  dcerskm  leggins,  armed  with  a  rifle,  a  powdor- 
lom  an<l  »  pouch  for  shot  and  bullets,  a  hatchet  aui  a  huntcrt 

which  he  forever  imagined  to  he  richer  and  lovelier  than 
those  which  he  Ic^w.    Wherever  he  ii.xed  his  halt,  the  hatchet 


stil't 


m 


m'' 


1 

m 

)■ 

s 

■  >■ 

fl 

ji  '.'■ 

■ 

:M 

A 

■ 

64: 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      f.p.  iii. ;  tn.  ▼. 


liowcd  logs  for  his  cabin,  and  bla;cod  trees  of  the  forest  kept 
the  record  of  his  title-deeds ;  nor  did  he  conceive  that  a  British 
govenunent  had  any  right  to  forbid  the  occui)ation  of  lands 
whieli  were  either  uninhabited  or  only  broken  by  a  few  scat- 
tced  clans  of  Havajres. 

The  adventurer  in  search  of  a  new  home  on  tlic  banks  of 
the  Mississippi  risked  his  life  at  every  stej) ;  so  that  a  system  of 
indcj)endent  defence  and  private  war  became  the  custom  of  the 
backwoods.  The  settler  had  every  motive  to  preserve  peace, 
yet  he  could  not  be  turned  from  his  pm-pose  by  fear,  and 
trusted  for  security  to  his  jierpetual  readiness  for  self-defence. 
Not  a  twelvemonth  passed  away  without  a  massacre  of  pio- 
neers. JS'ear  the  end  of  1773,  Daniel  Boone  would  have  taken 
his  wife  and  children  to  Kentucky.  At  PoweH's  valley  he 
was  joined  by  five  families  and  forty  men.  In  October,  as 
they  approached  Cumberland  gap,  the  young  men,  who  had 
charge  erf  the  pack-horses  and  cattle  in  the  rear,  were  suddeidy 
attacked  by  Indians;  one  only  escaped;  the  remaining  six, 
among  whom  was  Boone's  eldest  son,  Avere  killed  on  the  spot, 
so  that  the  survivors  of  the  par<-y  were  forced  to  turn  back  to 
the  settlements  on  Clinch  river.  AVhen  the  Cherokees  were 
sum.noned  by  Virginia  to  give  up  the  offenders,  they  evaded 
the  accusation  by  shifting  it  from  one  tribe  to  another;  but 
one  of  the  emigrant  party  who  had  escaped  avenged  his  com- 
panions by  killing  an  Indian  at  a  horse-race  on  the  frontier. 
This  was  the  first  Indi  .n  blood  shed  by  a  white  man  from  the 
time  of  the  treaty  of  Bouquet. 

In  the  beginning  of  February  177-i,  the  Indians  killed  six 
white  men  and  two  negroes,  and  near  the  end  of  the  same 
month  they  seized  a  trading  canoe  on  the  Ohio,  killed  the  men 
on  board,  and  carried  their  goods  to  the  Shawnee  towns.  In 
March,  Michael  Cresap,  after  a  skirmish  and  the  loss  of  one 
man  on  each  side,  took  from  a  party  of  Indians  live  loaded 
canoes.  It  became  known  that  messages  were  ixissing  between 
the  tribes  of  the  Ohio,  the  western  Indians,  and  the  Cherokees ; 
and  Connolly,  from  Pittsburg,  on  the  twenty-first  of  April, 
wrote  to  the  inhal)itants  of  Wheeling  to  bo  on  the  alert. 

Incensed  by  the  succession  of  murders,  the  backwoodsmen 
began  to  form  war-parties  along  the  frontier  from  the  Chero- 


1774. 


THE  QUEBEC  ACT  OV  PARLIAMENT. 


k 


CO  country  to  Pennsylvania.     When  tlio  letter  of  Cc 


85 
-nnolly 


fel   n.to  ( ,.csap  h  hands  I'O  and  hi.s  party  esteon.eci  the.nselvi 
uutlionKed  to  en-a^rc.  in  private  war;  an.l,  on  the  twenty-sixth 
ot  April,  they  fired  ui)on  two  Indians  who  were  with  a  white 
inun  in  a  eanoo  on  the  Ohio,  and  killed  them  both      On  the 
thn-tieth  of   April,  five  Delawares  and  Shawnees,  with  tluir 
women  among  whom  was  one  at  least  of  the  same  blood  with 
Loo,,,,,  happening  to  eneamp  near  Yellow  cro..k,  on  the  site 
of   the  present   town  of  Wellsviile,  were   entieed  across   the 
river  by  a  trader;  and  about  noon,  when  they  had  become  in- 
toxicated, were  mm-dered  in  cold  blood.     Two  others,  ci-ossini; 
the  Ohio  to  look  after  their  friends,  were  shot  down  as  soon  ^ 
hey  came  r.shore.     At  this,  five  more,  who  were  fo]lo^vinL^ 
turned  their  course  ;  but,  being  immediately  fired  at,  two  were 
kil  ed  and  two  wounded.     The  next  day  a  Shawnee  was  killed 
and  another  man  wounded.     Thirteen  Indians  were  killed  be- 
tween the  t\venty-first  of  A])ril  and  the  end  of  the  month 

At  the  tidings  of  this  bloodshed,  fleet  messengers  of  the 

red  men  ran  with  the  wail  of  war  to  the  Muskingimi  and  to 

the  fe hawncc  villages  in  Ohio ;  and  frcrp.ent  expresses  from 

the  white  men  reached   Williamsburg,  entreating  assistance. 

ilie  govcraor,  following  an  intimation  from  tlic  assembly  in 

May  ordered  the  militia  of  the  frontier  counties  to  be  imbodied 

for  defence.     Ucantimo,  Logan's  eoul  caUed  within  him  for 

revenge      In  his  early  life  he  ho^l    '  .v,it  near  the  beautiful 

plain  ot  bhamokin,  which  overly 

the  vale  of  Sunbury.     There  Zin; 

uga  chief,  Logan'2  father,  to  the  . 

years  later,  Eraincrd  M'ore  away  life  . 

fifty  cabins  of  the  village.     Logan  had  gr. .^,  ,«  ,„  ,,,eua 

of  white  men  ;    but  the  spirits  of  his  kindred  clamored  for 
)lood.     A\  ith  chosen  companions,  he  went  out  upon  the  war- 
piiui,  and  added  scalp  to  scalp,  till  their  number  was  thirteen. 
Now,    said  the  chief,  "  I  am  satisfied  for  the  loss  of  my  rela- 
tions, and  wdl  sit  still."  "^ 

But  the  Shawnees,  the  most  warlike  of  the  tribes,  prowled 
ti-om  the  Alleghany  river  to  what  is  now  Sullivan  county  in 
ieuuesseo.  One  of  them  returned  with  the  scalps  of  fortv 
men,  women,  and  children.     On  the  other  hand,  a  party  of 


isqnehannah  and 

''need  the  Caj'- 

1  there,  three 

•y  among  the 

"  -4/  as  the  friend 


'ft   ^^)i 


S6 


AMERICA  ARMS   FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


KP.  III.  ;  OH.  V. 


1 1 


whito  men,  with  Diininore'n  permission,  destroy ci  an  Indian 
village  on  tlio  Aruhkiiiguni, 

To  rostntin  (ho  backwood.smcn  and  end  the  nii.serics  wliicli 
distracted  the  frontier,  and  to  look  after  his  own  interesta  and 
his  r.g"Mtrt,  Diim>-oro  called  ont  the  ndlitia  of  tin;  South-west, 
and  himself  repaired  to  Pittsburg.  In  Sei)teiMber  he  renewed 
peace  with  the  Delawares  and  the  Six  Nations.  Then,  with 
about  twelve  uundred  men,  amonj,'  whom  was  Daniel  ]\Iorpan, 
with  a  compar.y  from  the  valley  of  Virginia,  lie  descended  tho 
Ohio,  and  i)roceeded  to  tho  Shawnee  town.s,  which  ho  found 
deserted. 

The  siinmions  from  Dunmorc,  borno  beyond  the  liluo 
Ilidge,  roused  the  settlens  on  tho  Greenbrier,  tho  Now  river, 
and  tho  Ilolston.  The  Watauga  republicans,  who  never  owned 
English  rule  and  never  required  English  protection,  heard  tho 
cry  of  their  uxcthreiv  in  distress  ;  and  a  comjiany  of  nearly 
iifty  of  them,  under  the  conunand  of  Evan  Shelby,  with  James 
Robertson  and  Valeutine  Sevlor  as  sergeants,  marched  as  vol- 
unteers. The  name  of  every  one  of  them  is  preserved  and 
cherished.  Leaving  home  in  August,  they  crossed  tho  New 
river,  and  joined  theannyof  western  Virginia  at  Camp  Union, 
on  the  great  levels  of  (Treenbrier.  Froin  that  place,  now  called 
Lewisburg,  to  tho  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha,  the  distanco 
is  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  At  that  time  there  was 
not  even  a  trace  over  the  rugged  mountains ;  but  tho  youno- 
woodsmen  who  formed  tho  advance  party  moved  expeditiously 
with  their  pack-horses  and  droves  of  cattle  through  tho  home 
of  tho  wolf,  the  deer,  and  the  panther.  After  a  fortnight's 
stniggle,  they  left  behind  them  the  last  rocky  masses  of  the 
hill-tops ;  and,  passing  jctween  the  gigantic  growth  of  primeval 
forests,  m  which  at  that  season  tho  golden  hue  of  the  hnden, 
tho  sugar-tree,  and  tho  hickory  contrasted  with  the  glistening 
green  of  the  laurel,  the  crimson  of  the  sumach,  and  the  shadows 
of  tho  sombre  hemlock,  they  descended  to  the  widening  valley 
of  Elk  river.  Halting  only  to  build  canoes  and  receive  a  sec- 
ond party,  which  raised  their  force  to  nearly  eleven  hundred 
men,  they  descen ''•id  the  Kanawha,  and  on  the  sixth  of  Octo- 
ber encamped  on  Point  Pleasant,  near  its  junction  with  the 
Ohio.     But  no  message  reached  them  from  Duumoro. 


1774.  THE  QUE.JEC  AC!  OF  I'MlLrAMENT. 


W 


t)f  all  tl. 


Of  ail  the,  western  Indians,  ti.e  Slmvnocs  were  tl.  ficrcc^.t. 
1  hey  imule  a  boast  of  Laving  killed  ten  times  as  n.Mnv  of  tl,o 
KnKl.«h  an  any  other  tribe.     They  «tolo  thron^h  the  forest 
^^.ti    ]\un^oo.  and  Delawures,  to  attack  th.-   anuy  of  .outh- 
western  V.rgn.-a.     At  daybreak,  on  the  tenth,  two  young  n.cn. 
amb  ,,,  np  the  (  hio  in  search  of  deer,  fell  on  the  Indians 
who  had  erossetl  vhe  nver  11,o  eveninj.  before  and  were  pro! 
panng  for  battle.     One  of  the  two  was  iustat.tly  .hot  down; 
the  other  bore  the  news  to  the  can.,).    In  two  oi  three  nunutes 
after,  Robertson  and  Sevier,  of  Shelby's  co.npanv,  eanie  in  and 
condru.ed  the  aeeount.     Colonel  Andrew  Lewi;,  who  had  the 
connnand,  n.stuntly  ordered  ont  two  divisions,  each  of  one 
hundred  and  bity  men;  the  Augusta  troops  under  his  brother 
Charles  Lcwis,_tho  Bot,  fourt  trooi,s  under  Flenunn,     Just  as 
the  sun  was  rising,  the  Indians  opened  a  heavy  fire  on  both  par- 

thrice;  and  the  Virginians  must  have  given  u^: ■  1  ,t  for  suc- 

irisllfr"'"';"?'";'^ ''■""  *'"'  --'I^  where  ;;  .drew  Lewis 
hmiself  lingered  to  the  end  of  the  action.  »  Be  Btron-  "  cried 
ConiHtalk,  the  chief  of  the  red  men  ;  and  he  aninulted  th  n 
by  his  example.  Till  the  hour  of  noon  the  combatants  fought 
f  oni  bdnnd  trees,  never  above  twenty  yards  apart,  often  within 
SIX,  and  somet.mos  near  e;iur.gh  to  strike  with  tho  tomahawk 

w  od'ti ' "i,  'r^' ""'^^ '''"^ ^^^^'^^^'"^ ^' '"^^ ^^'^ -^'- 

ta'oour    .,'"'"  'T^  f'^^'f'  *'"  '^^^y  ^--"-1  an  advan- 
tageous line  extending  from  the  Ohio  to  the  Kanawha.     A 
desultory  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  till  after  sunset,  when 
^der  the  favor  of  nigbt,  the  savages  fled  across  th    river.' 

wounded  ''  "''"""  '■"^'  "^'  ^'"^*  '^^'y  "-^^  -- 

nnnr^'^f^T'  ^^'"  '"°'*  Moody  and  best  contested  in  the 
sdv  s  Mortly  to  found  states.  Among  them  were  I.aac  Shel- 
bmv^rn  ^^r'"T'  '^  ^^^^^*"«'^)^;  William  Campbell;  the 
^senatoTJV  T  -r"  '.''"""^^ '  ^""^^^^  ^^loor^'afterUrd 
0^1.1;!'^'%^":*'^^  ^''''''^  ^'■^'^  Shelby;  James  Robert- 
son ,  ^  alentinc  Sevier ;  and  Daniel  Morgan.  Their  praise  re 
-uiK^dnotiathe  bacl.voods  only,  but 'thvough  1  ^i  ^  „  ' 
Soon  after  the  battle  a  re-enforcement  of  ^three  hundred 


ill 


.   1 


ii 


•? 


I':  I. 


^  : 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  on.  V. 


troops  arrived  from  Fincastle.  Following  orders  tardily  re- 
ceived from  Dunmore,  the  ai-my,  leaving  a  garrison  at  Point 
Pleasant,  dashed  across  the  Ohio  to  defy  new  battles.  After 
a  march  of  eighty  miles  through  an  untrodden  wilderness,  on 
the  twenty-fourth  of  October  they  encamped  on  the  banks  of 
Congo  ereck  in  Pickaway,  near  old  Chillicotho.  The  dis- 
heartened Indians  threw  themselves  on  the  mercy  of  the  Eno-. 
lish ;  and  at  Camp  Charlotte,  which  stood  on  the  left  bank  of 
Sippo  creek,  about  seven  miles  south-east  of  Circleville,  Dun- 
more  admitted  them  to  a  conference. 

Before  the  council  was  brought  to  a  close  the  Shawnees 
agreed  to  deliver  up  their  prisoners  without  reserve ;  to  restore 
all  horsos  and  other  property  which  they  had  carried  off ;  to 
hunt  no  more  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  Ohio  ;  to  molest  no 
boats  on  the  river ;  to  regulate  their  trade  by  the  king's  in- 
structions, and  to  deliver  up  hostages.  Virginia  has  left  on 
record  her  judgment,  that  Dunmore's  conduct  in  this  campaign 
was  "truly  noble,  wise,  and  spirited."  The  results  inured 
exclusively  to  the  benefit  of  America.  The  Indians  desired 
peace ;  the  rancor  of  the  white  people  changed  to  confidence. 
The  royal  govei-nor  of  Virginia  and  the  Virginian  army  in  the 
valley  of  tlie  Scioto  nullified  the  act  of  parhament  which  ex- 
tciidcd  the  province  of  Quebec  to  the  Ohio,  aiid  in  the  name 
of  the^  king  of  Great  Britain  triumphantly  maintained  for 
Virginia  the  western  and  northwestern  jurisdiction  which  she 
claimed  as  her  chartered  right. 

The  western  Virginians,  uplting  at  Fort  Gower,  on  the  north 
of  the  Ohio,  on  the  fifth  of  November,  took  their  part  in  con- 
sidering the  grievances  of  their  country.  They  were  "  blessed 
with  the  talents  "  to  bear  all  hardships  of  the  woods ;  to  pass 
weeks  comfortably  without  bread  or  salt ;  to  sleep  under  the 
open  sky ;  to  march  farther  in  a  day  than  any  men  in  the 
world ;  and  to  use  the  rifle  with  a  precision  that  to  all  but 
themselves  was  a  miracle.  Professing  zeal  for  the  honor  of 
America,  and  especially  of  Virginia,  they  held  themselves 
bound  to  publish  their  sentiments ;  they  jjromised  continued 
allegiance  to  the  king,  if  he  would  but  reign  over  them  as 
"a  brave  and  free  people."  "But,"  said  they,  "as  attach- 
mciit  to  the  real  interests  and  just  rights  of  America  outweigh 


1774. 


TDE  QUEBEC  ACT  OF  PARLIAMENT. 


89 

every  other  consideration,  we  resolve  that  wo  will  exert  everv 
power  withm  ns  for  the  defence  of  American  liberty,  when 
regularly  called  forth  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  our  countrv^l 
men."  >/ 

On  the  ninth,  the  general  committee  of  South  Carolina  sum- 
monea  a  couvenrion  of  the  inhabitants  of  their  colony  by  repre 
sentation.     In  the  apportionment  of  representatives,  Charles- 
ton, on  the  proposal  of  Charles   Pinckney,  obtained  thirty 
keeping  up  the  inequality  which  began  in  the  committee;  at 
the  desire  of  "the  country  gentlemen,"  six  were  all,  ,ved  to 
each  of  nmeteen  parishes,  which  lay  along  the  sea  and  in  the 
lowlands ;  wlule  all  the  upland  territory  was  divided  into  four 
very  hirge  districts,  to  each  of  which  ten  only  were  conceded 
Ihis  IS  the  origin  of  the  unequal  distribution  of  political  i.ower 
which  ong  prevailed  in  South  Carolina;  of  one  hundred  and 
eiglity-four  representatives,  the  low  country  elected  all  but 

On  the  twenty-first,  the  Maryland  convention  was  reassem- 
bled,  and  unanimously  approved  the  proceedings  of  con^^ress 
.W  f  l''™''*^^  recommended  that  all  former   diiferences 
about  religion  or  politics,  the  feuds  of  .0  many  generations 
between  Cathohcs  and  Protestants,  between  the  friends  and 
the  foes  of  the  proprietary  government,  be  forever  buried  in 
obhvion;  It  conjured  every  man,  by  his  duty  to  God,  his  coun- 
to-,  and  las  postenty,  to  unite  in  defence  of  thei;  common 
rights  and  liberties ;  and  it  promised,  to  the  utmost  of  its  power 
0  support  Massac  msetts  against  the  attempt  to  carry  the  late 
act  of  parliament  mto  execution  by  force. 


'■I  '*' 

i) 

ill 


ifi 


lift 


I  li 


90 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  VI. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   FOURTEEJfTII    PAELIAMEXT   OF   GIJEAT   BKITAIX. 

October  ITTl-JAxuAny  20,  1775. 

"  It  is  tlie  united  voic3  of  America  to  preserve  their  free- 
dom, or  lose  their  lives  in  defence  of  it.  Tlieir  resolutions  are 
not  the  effect  of  inconsiderate  rashness,  but  the  sound  result  of 
sober  inquiry  and  deliberation.  The  true  spirit  of  liberty  was 
never  so  universally  diffused  through  all  ranks  and  orders  of 
people  in  any  country  on  the  face  of  the  earth  as  it  now  is 
through  all  North  America.  If  the  late  acts  of  parhamcnt 
are  not  to  be  repealed,  the  wisest  stop  for  both  countries  is  to 
separate,  and  not  to  spend  their  blood  and  treasure  in  destroy- 
ing each  other.  It  is  barely  possible  that  Groat  Erltmn  may 
depopulate  North  America ;  sl'e  never  can  conquer  the  inhabi- 
tants." So  wrote  Joseph  Warren,  and  his  words  Avere  the 
mirror  of  the  passions  of  his  countrymen.  But  the  Icing  never 
once  harbored  the  thought  of  concession,  and  "  left  the  choice 
of  war  or  peace  "  to  depend  on  the  obedience  of  Massachusetts. 

At  the  elections  to  parliament  the  question  was  repre- 
sented as  though  Massachusetts  j-efused  to  pay  a  veiy  moderate 
indemnity  for  property  destroyed  by  a  mob,  and  resisted  an 
evident  improvement  in  its  administrative  system  from  a  de- 
liberate conspiracy  with  other  colonies  to  dissolve  the  connec- 
tion with  tlie  mother  country.  ^lany  of  the  members  who 
were  purchasing  seats  expected  to  reimburse  themselves  by 
selling  their  votes  to  the  government. 

Lord  Varney,  who  had  hitherto  gratuitously  brought  Ed- 
mund Burke  into  parliament,  had  faheu  iiito  *  debt,  and  sold 
his  borough  for  the  inost  he  could  get.      Burke  coquetted 


^   Fa  I 


1774.  TIIE  FOURTEENTH   BRITISH  PARLIAMENT.  91 

witli  Wilkes  for  support  at  Westminster;  "tlie  great  patriot" 
preferred  Lord  JVIahoii ;  but  the  borough  elected  tories.    Burke 
fell  into  nielaneholy,  and  tliouglit  ot  renouncing  public  life 
for  which  ho  owned  himself  unlit.     There  seemed  for  him  no 
way  into  the  house  of  conunons  except  through  a  rotten  bor- 
ough  belonging  to  Rockingham.      This   was   iiis  best  hope 
when,  on  the  eleventh  of  October,  he  was  invited  to  become 
a  candidate  at  Bristol  against  Viscount  Clare,  who,  in  the  de- 
bates  on  the  stamp  act,  had  stickled  for  "the  pepper-corn" 
from  America.      lie   hastened  to  the  contest   with   alacrity 
avowing  for  his  principle  the  reconciliation  of  British   supe- 
riority with  American  liberty ;  and,  after  a  otruggle  of  three 
weeks,  ho  and  Henry  Cmger  of  New  York  were  chosen  to 
represent  the  great  trading  city  of  western  Engla;i:]. 

Bristol  was  almost  the  only  i^lace  which  chan-od  its  repre- 
sentation to  the  advantage  of  America.  AV^lkes'was  success- 
ful m  the  county  of  Middlesex,  and,  after  a  ten  years'  struo-^le 
with  the  kmg,  took  his  seat  without  opposition.  ""^ 

William  Howe  was  the  candidate  foi   Nottlno-ham      To 
the  questions  of  that  liberal  constituency  he  answered  that  the 
nnmstryhad  pushed  matters  too  far;  that  the  whole  BrMsh 
anny  would   not   be  suiiicient  to  conrpier  America;  that,  if 
oltered  a  command  there,  he  would  refnao  it;   and  that  he 
would  vote  for  the  repeal  of  the  four  penal  acts  of  parliament, 
ihe    elections  were   over,    when,   on    the   eighteenth   of 
November,  letters  of  the  preceding  September,  received  from 
(xage,  announced  that  the  act  of  parliament  for  regulatln-  the 
government  of  Massachusetts  could  be  carried  into  cffect^only 
after  the  conquest  of  all  the  J^ew  England  colonies;  that  the 
province  had  warm  friends  throughout  the  continent;    that 
the  people  in  Carolina  were  "as  mad"  as  in  Boston;  that  the 
country  people   in   i^Iassachusetts,    Connecticut,    and   Rhode 
Island  were  exerebing  in  arms  and  forming  magazines  of  am- 
niumtiop  and  such  artillery,  good  ana  bad,  as  they  could  pro- 
cure; that  the  civil  officers  of  the  British  government  had  no 
asylum  but  Boston.     In  a  private  letter.  Gage  proposed  that 
he  obnoxious  acts  should  be  suspended.     In  an  official  paper 
he  hni  ed  that  it  would  be  well  to  cut  the  colonies  adrift,  and 
leave  them  to  anarchy  and  repentance ;  they  had  grown  opu- 


I      ' 


93  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       ep.  m. ;  oh.  vi. 

lent  througli  Britain,  and,  were  tliey  cast  ofT  and  declared 
aliens,  tliey  must  become  a  needy  people.  The  king  heard 
these  suggestions  with  scorn,  and  said  to  Nortli :  "  The  :N'ev/ 
England  governments  are  now  in  a  state  of  rebellion ;  blows 
must  decide  whether  tliey  are  to  be  subject  to  this  country  or 
to  be  mdependent."  Franklin  warned  his  nearest  friends  that 
there  was  no  safety  for  America  but  in  total  emancipation. 

The  fourtL'cnth  parliament  was  opened  on  tlie  last  day  of 
November.     Tlie  speech  from  the  throne  fixed  attention  on 
the   disobedience  in  Massachusetts.     In  the  house  of  lords 
Hillsborough  moved  an  address,  expressing  nbliorrence  of  the 
principles  of  that  province.     After  a  long  and  vehement  de- 
Kate,  las  motion  prevailed  by  a  vote  of  about  live  to  one     But 
Eockmgliam,  Shelburne,  Camden,  Stanhope,   and   five  other 
peers,  entered  a  protest  against  "the  inconsiderate  temerity 
which  might  precipitate  the  country  into  a  civil  war  "     «  The 
king's  speech,"  wrote  Gamier  to  Vergenncs,   "will  complete 
tlie  alienation  of  the  colonies.     Eveiy  day  makes  conciliation 
more  diilicult  and  more  needed." 

On  tlio  fifth  of  December  the  new  house  of  commons  de- 
bated the  same  subject.  Fox,  Burke,  and  others  spoke  wamily. 
ihe  result.i  of  the  congress  had  not  arrived;  Lord  North  could 
therefore  say  that  America  had  as  vet  offered  no  terms;  at  the 
same  tune  he  avoided  the  irrevo,  ible  word  rebellion.  Some 
called  the  Americans  cowards ;  some  questioned  their  bcintr  in 
earnest;  Barre  declared  the  scheme  of  subduing  them  "wild 
and  impracticable;"  the  minister  was  sustained  by  a  very 
great  majority.  '^ 

To  escape  impending  difficulties,  Lord  North  wished  to 
send  out  commissioners  of  inquiry;  but  the  king  would  not 
listen  to  it. 

Friends  of  Franklin  were  next  employed  to  ascertain  the 
extent  of  his  demands  for  America;  and  he  wrote  "hints  on 
the  term3  that  might  produce  a  durable  union  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  colonies."  Assuming  that  the  tea  duty  act 
would  be  repealed,  he  oifered  payment  for  the  tea  that  had 
been  destroyed,  support  of  the  peace  establishment  and  gov- 
ernment, liberal  aids  in  time  of  war  on  requisition  by  the  king 
and  parliament,  and,  if  Britain  would  give  up  its  monopoly  of 


A'A 


1774.  THE  FOURTEENTH  BRITISH  RARLIAMENT.  93 

American  commerce,  a  continuance  of  tlio  same  aids  in  time  of 
peace.     On  the  otlier  hand,  he  asked  the  repeal  of  the  Quebec 
act,  and  insisted  on  the  repeal  of  the  acts  regnlating  the  gov- 
ernment and  changing  the  laws  of  Massachusetts.     -  The  old 
colonies,"  it  was  objected,  -have  nothing  to  do  with  the  af- 
fairs  o    Canada."     "AVe  assisted  in  its  conquest,"  said  Frank- 
lin;    loving  liberty  ourselves,  we  wish  to  have  no  foundation 
lor  future  slavery  laid  in  America."    "  The  Massachusetts  act  " 
It  was  urged,  "  is  an  improvement  of  that  government "    "  The 
pretended  amendments  are  real  mischiefs,"  answered  Franklin  • 
;  but,  were  it  not  so,  charters  are  compacts  between  two  par- 
ties, the  king  and  the  people,  not  to  be  aHercd  even  for  the 
better  but  by  the  consent  of  both.    The  jxarliament'o  claim  and 
exercise  of  a  power  to  alter  charters  which  had  l)ccn  always 
held  inviolable,  and  to  alter  laws  of  the  colonial  legislatures 
which,  having  received  the  royal  approbation,  had  been  deemed 
fixed  and  unchangeable  but  by  the  powers  that  made  them, 
liaye  rendered  all  our  constitutions  uncertain.     As  by  claiminci 
a  right  to  tax  at  will,  you  deprive  us  of  all  property,  so,  by  tint's 
claim  of  altering  our  laws  at  will,  you  deprive  us  of  all  privi- 
lege and  right  bur  what  we  hold  at  your  pleast,rc.     We  must 
risk  life  and  everything  rather  than  submit  to  this  " 

The  words  of  Franklin  were  in  harmony  with  the  true 
voice  of  England.     MYere  I  an  American,"  caid  Camden  in 
he  house  o    lords,  "I  would  resist  to  the  last  drop  of  my 
Wood.       Still  tlie  annual  estimates  indicated  no  fear  of  the 
interruption  of  peace.     The  land-tax  wao  continued  at   but 
three  shillings  in  the  pound ;  no  vote  of  credit  was  required ; 
the  army  was  neither  increased  nor  reformed;  and  the  naval 
force  was  reduced  by  four  thousand  seamen.     "  How  is  it  pos 
sible,'   asked  the  partisans  of  authority,  "  that  a  people  ^4ll- 
out  arms,  ammunition,  money,  or  navy,  should  dare  to  brave 
tlie  foremost  among  all  the  powers  on  earth  ? "    "  I  know  "  ^aid 
Sandwich,  now  at  the  head  of  the  admiralty,  "  the  low  cstlbHsh- 
men   proposed  will  be  fully  sufficient  for  reducing  the  colonies 
to  obedience.     Americans  are  neither  disciplined  nor  capable 
of  discipline;  their  numbers  will  only  add  to  the  facility  of 
their  defeat ;     and  he  made  the  lords  merry  with  jests  at  their 


fii 


p- 


J 


i'l  ■'!' 


m 


94 


AMEltlCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFK>fCE. 


EI'.  III.  ;  CM.  VI. 


TI.o  eongrcs.s.  of  ]\ra.ss'ielnuse(t.s,  tliousU  destitute  of  inimi- 
tion.s  of  Will-,  iwnu'd  vessels,  militaiy  store.«,  and  money,  liad 
coiiiidonce  that  a  small  people,  resolule  m  its  convictioiis,  out- 
weighs an  empire.     On  tlio  return  of  Samuel  Adams,  they 
adopted  all  the  recommendations  of  the  eontiiiental  congress. 
They  established  a  secret  correspondence  with  Canada.     They 
entreated  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  their  colony  "to  a.ssi,st 
in  avoiding  that  dreadful   slavery  with  which  all"  were  now 
threatened."     -  \'o„,"  said  they  to  its  ]>eople,  ''are  placed  by 
rrovidence  in  the  post  of  honor,  because  it  is  the  i)ost  of  dan- 
ger; while  struggli)ig  for  the  noblest  objects,  let  nothing  un- 
becoming our  character  as  Americans,  as  citizens,  and  Thris- 
tians,  be  justly  chargcnd.le  to  us.    Whoever  considers  the  mnn- 
ber  of  brave  men  inhabiting  North  America  will  know  that  a 
general  attention  to  ndlitary  discipline  nnist  so  establish  their 
rights  and  liberties  as,  under  (Jod,  to  render  it  impos.sible  to 
destroy  them.     But  we  apprise  you  of  your  danger,  which  ap- 
pears to  us  imminently  great."     With  such  words  they  ad- 
journed, to  kec])  tlie  annual  Thanksgiving  which  they  them- 
selves  had   appointed,   linding  occasion   in   their  distress   to 
rejoice  at  "the  smiles  of  Divine  Providence  on  the  union  in 
their  own  imn-ince  and  throughout  the  continent." 

As  Briti,-h  ships  of  the  line  successivelv  arrived,  they 
brought  for  the  land  service  no  more  than  six  hundred  re- 
cruits, which  only  made  good  the  losses  by  sickness  ami  deser- 
tion ;  so  that  (Jag-e  had  scarcely  three  thousand  clfectivo  men. 
before  the  middle  of  December  it  became  known  that  the 
king  m  council  had  forbidden  the  export  of  arms  to  America; 
:^t  once  men  from  Providence  removed  more  than  forty  pieces 
of  cannon  from  tlic  colony's  works  near  Xewi)ort;  'and  the 
ossembly  and  merchants  of  Rhode  Island  took  measures  to 
nni)ort  military  stores. 

At  r.)rtsmoutli,  New  Hampshire,  on  tlio  fourteenth  of 
December,  jui-.t  v.itcr  lettei-s  were  received  from  Boston,  mem- 
bers of  the  town  committee,  with  other  Sons  of  Liberty,  pre- 
ceded by  a  drum  and  iife,  paratled  the  streets  till  their  uu'mber 
grew  to  four  hundred,  when  they  made  their  way  in  scows  and 
"gondolas"  to  the  fort  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  over- 
powered the  few  invalids  who  formed  its  garrison,  and  carried 


im.  THE  FOUrtTEEXTII   niJlTISir  PAIILIAMENT.  95 

oir  upward  of  (,,,0  Linulred  barrels  of  powder  that  belonc^ed 
to  the  province.  The  next  day  John  Sidhvau  led  a  party  to 
dismantle  the  fort,  fn.u.  whieh  they  hrou^^ht  away  all  the  «mall 
arms,  a  quantity  of  nhot,  and  sixteen  li^ht  pieees  ,)f  artillery 

In  Massaehusetts  three  hundred  thousand  people  continued 
tlieir  usual  avocations  without  a  legislatui-o  or  executive  officers 
without  shei-iifs,  jud-03,  or  justices  of  the  i)eacc.      As  the  su' 
I)orvi8ion  of  M'overninent  disappeared,  each  man  seemed  more 
and  more  a  law  to  himself,  and  order  prevailed  in  a  province 
whcTo  there  existed  no  administration  but  by  committees  no 
military  officers  but  thoae  chosen  by  the  militia,     ^'et  never 
were  legal  magistrates  obeyed  with  more  alacrity.     The  select 
men  continued  their  usual  functions;  the  zeal  of  the  churches 
u.creased  m  fervor.     From  the  sennous  of  memorable  divines 
who  were  gone  to  a  heavenly  country,  leaving  their  names 
precio,;.  among  the  ])eople  of  (}od  on  earth,  a  brief  collection 
ot  faithtiil  testimonies  to  the  cause  of  God  and  his  Few  Eno-. 
land  people  was  circulated  by  the  press,  that  the  hearts  of  the 
rising  ..eneintlon  might  know  what  had  been  the  great  end  of 
the  plantations,  and  count  it  their  duty  and  tlieir  glory  to  eon- 
tmne  in  tliose  right  ways  of  tlie  Lord  wherein  tlieir  fathers 
walked  before  them.      Their  successors  in  the  ministry    all 
pupils  of  Harvard  or  Yale,  ti-ue  ministei-s  to  the  ])eople,'un- 
c(iualled  m  metaphysical  acuteness  and  familiarity  with  the 
princii)les  of  political  freedom,  were  heard  as  of  old  with  rev- 
erence by  their  congregations  in  their  meeting-houses  on  every 
Lord's  day,  and  on  si)ecial  ocea-.ions  of  fasts,  tlianks<rivino-s 
lectures,  and  military  musters.     Elijah's  mantle  being^'cauc^ht 
up  was  a  happy  token  that  the  Lord  would  bo  with  this  gen- 
eration, as  he  had  been  with  their  fathers.     Their  exhaustless 
armory  was  the  Bible,  whose  scriptures  furnished  sharp  words 
to  point  their  appeal;?,  apt  examples  of  resistance,  prophetic 
denunciations  of  the  enemies  of  (iod's  people,  and  promises  of 
the  divme  blessing  on  the  defenders  of  Ids  law. 

But  what  most  animated  the  country  was  the  magnanimity 
of  Boston;  "sulFcring  amazing  loss,  bilt  determined  to  endure 
poverty  and  death,  rather  than  betray  America  and  posterity." 
Its  people,  under  the  eyes  of  the  general,  disregarding  his  army, 
his  proclamations,  and  the  British  statute  against  town-meet- 


II 
It 


W\ 


I 


'^ 


m  r]  ill: 


'h  i    II' 


96 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


KP.  in. ;  OH.  n. 


ings,  ca.no  together  according  to  tlieir  ancient  forms,  and, 
withfeanincl  Adams  as  moderator,  elected  delegates  to  tl  next 
provincial  congress  of  Massachusetts. 

When  the  i)rocccdings  of  congress  reached  England,  their 
lirmness,  moderation,  and  nnanimity  took  the  ministry  by  snr- 
prise  Iranklin  invited  tlie  colonial  agents  to  unite  in  present- 
ing  the  petition  of  congress,  but  he  was  joined  only  by  those 
for  Massachnsetts.  Dartmouth  received  it  courteously,  and 
laid  It  before  the  king,  who  promised  that  it  should  be  com- 
municated to  parliament. 

British  industry  in  that  ago  made  every  able-bodied  man  of 
so  much  value  that  considerable  enlistments  at  home  were  out 
of  the  question ;  rank  in  the  army  was  bestowed  by  favor  or 
sold,  so  that  even  boys  at  school  held  commissions ;  and  not 
one  genera  oflicer  of  that  day  had  gained  a  great  name.     Aris- 
tocratic selhshness  had  nniitted  England  for  war,  unless  nnder 
a  minister  who  could  inspirit  the  nation.     Barrington,  the  mili- 
tary secretary,  pressed  upon  the  government  the  result  of  his 
observations:  "The  contest  will  cost  more  than  we  can  gain. 
We  have  not  strength  to  levy  internal  taxes  on  America;  many 
among  ourselves  doubt  their  equity;  all  the  troops  in  North 
America  are  not  enough  to  subdue  the  Massachusetts ;    the 
most  successful  conquest  must  produce  the  horrors  of  civil  war. 
Til    he  factious  chiefs  can  be  secured,  judicial  proceedings 
^vould  confer  the  palm  of  martyrdom  without  the  pain;"  and 
ho  urged  an  immediate  withdrawal  of  the  troops,  the  "aban- 
donment of  al    Ideas  of  internal  taxation,"  and  such  "conces- 
sions    as  could  be  made  "with  dignity." 

Lord  North  was  ready  to  negotiate  with  the  Americans  for 
the  right  to  tax  themselves.  Franklin  appeared  to  be  the  great 
agent  of  the  continent;  and,  as  it  was  still  thought  that  his 
secret  instructions  might  authorize  him  to  modify  the  condi- 
tions of  conciliation,  Lord  Howe  undertook  to  ascertain  the 
extent  of  his  powers. 

The  name  of  Howe  was  dear  to  Americans.  The  elder 
Lord  Howe  had  fallen  near  Lake  George,  as  their  companion 
in  arms ;  and  Massachusetts  had  raised  to  him  a  monument  in 
Westminster  Abbey.  His  brother,  William  Howe,  who  had 
served  w.th  Americans  in  America,  was  selected  as  the  new 


1774.  THE 


FOURTEENTH  BRITISH   PARLIAMENT. 


97 


colonml  commanclcr-m-chief ;  and  Lis  oldest  mMvh,^  brother 

now  Lord  Ilowo,  was  to  bo  employed  as  the  paciiieator  ^ 

,     '  JSo  man  "  saul  Lord  Howe  to  Franklin  .t  their  first  inter 

view  on  Christnias-dav  evenij.o-  irr^  u  i  '"'^^  "^^^r- 

regard  for  ^Vnv.  E,,gto<,,  „.,,.,,  luZll.t;     L  ,  "j 
fur  mj-  fa,„,l^.     If  yon  will  iudnlgo  ,„o  will,  j-„„r  idcS    T„av 
bo  a  moans  of  bringing  on  a  good  uudcrinding.''    A.  "be 
un  xpoood  prospect  of  restoring  l.annonj,  ,ea,-/of  joy  w^ 
Irauldn,  a  obccU     Ho  ],ad  reniaincd  in  London  at  ftf  nlri 
of  W  bbcrty,  i«rbaps  of  las  lifo,  to  pron.oto  re™  ,c  X 
With  candor  and  iidelity  l,o  explained  the  ,neas„r«  by  w  ki; 
alono  tnnqndhiy  conid  bo  restored;  and  they  included  a,o 
repcM  ot  the  rognl.uing  act  for  Ma^cbusetts. 

and  n1   "'lIl'T,''"  ''"',r''°f  °'  "'■'  ""'"'"''  *"  "■'"■"""■a 
and  JNoi  ii     but  liny  adlicrod  to  tlie  vague  and  ain,les.s  ohn 

to  ag  ec  ntli  its  Icadnig  ixjoplo  upon  some  means  of  comnos- 
ng  all  d, ilc-ouces.    Every  prospect  of  p,rfc„„ent  was  ZS 

rcpb  be  frankly  pomtod  out,  as  tlie  only  basis  for  a  conlPd 
«n.on,the  repeal  of  tbe  acts  compluiued'^f ;  t  ,e  cnov  1  o 
tbo  Heet  and  tbo  troops  from  Boston ;  and  a  voluntary  !c^n  of 
some  oppressive  measures  which  the  colonists  bad  pied  oler 
ins,lence;  leaving  the  <p,estions  which  related  t'o  ads  T' 
eml  connncrce,  and  reparation  to  tbe  India  cou.pauy,  „  bo^ar" 
ranged  with  tbo  next  general  congress 

Tbe  assembly  of  the  island  of  Jamaica,  at  th<.ir  session  in 
December,  disclaiming  any  intention  of  joining  the  Amerfc  " 
contcdcracy,  entreated  tbo  biug  to  recognise 'lie  1,^01  aU 
Americans  to  the  benoiif^  nf  +],«  T?,    i-  i  ■      . 

bond  of  i,n;.n  1    .  '"''"''  constitution  as  the 

bond  of  un  on  between  them  and  Britain  ;  but  their  petition 
though  received  by  the  king  and  communic  ted  to   h    hou  e  of 
comnions,  had  no  effect  whatever. 

"  It  is  plai.  enough,"  so  reasoned  Yergcnnos,  '^  the  Icin^  of 

conld  L  no  I  i  f '":^  ''T  ''  '  "^""^'^'" '  -  ''-^'  nothing 
could  b.  more  interesting  than  their  affairs."  As  the  kinir  of 
1^ ranee  niiirlit  ho  ■.^^i-nA  f^  ^.....i...  .,  .  '^  ^^^"^  ^^ 


VOL.   IV.— 7 


asked  to  rcndor  them  assist 


mce,  the  Euiriish 


Llil-  ■ 

i 

WR'-' 

i      '• 

l)s 


i:  I 


AMKUICA  AKMS  VOR  HKM-'  DKhKNcK. 


Kl'.  III.  ;  on,  VI. 


H\\\>i)ovl    (.r    (Iir    ( 'ni-riicMIW    W'.IM    ritvcl    an   ji     pn-ccdnK    i,,    f,|,o 
Kn-Mcli  .•iiil.iisHv  ;il  l.nii.luii,  and  hron-rlil,  Ik-Ioiv  Ih.^  ,M|,i,„.t  at 

^•'•■"".'"'■■^-     ''-•    ' '^   NVI.,   V.T-rmi.-M  in  ll...  kimi,,  „h„i(Ii 

•  •xphiii.'d  llial  \ho  pnicivdiii-^r^or  flu^  <-uiiliii(>iilal  (•oii;;ivsh  (-(.m- 
fiiiiicd  III,.  ^.,.nii  of  a  ivl.clliuii;  Hial,  uliil.*  ll...  AincricaiiH 
really  d.-siivd  a  rrcoiicilialitdi  with  Mic  iii..tlicr  cnimlrv,  (he  iniii- 
infry,  frnm  Ihcir  iiidillciTiicc,  would  |mvv.iiI  its  iakiii^r  |,|.„.,.; 
Miiil.  LunI  ,N,,rlli  was  (liscdiiccrlvd  l.y  tiiu  iiiiaiiiiiiilv  and  vi^.r 
"•'  Ihe  .•oIni,i,.s;  and  (hat.  I'Vaiicc  had  iiolhiii^r  (,,  iVar  hid,  tliu 
riiLiirn  of  Clialhain  (o  power. 

The  inleivsls  of  jlritain  iV(iiiiivd  Chat  ham's  ivliirn;  lor  he 
tlioroii..hl_v  iiiuhTslood  aliko  the  poliey  of  tlu'  Freiieh,  and  tlu^ 
dis|)osilioii  ..!'  (!i(.  eojonie.^.  Ill  his  inlerview  with  AnierieaiiH, 
lie  said,  without  reserw:  -  Aiueriea,  under  all  her  oppresHioiiH 
iind  provocations,  holds  out,  to  us  the  iiiest,  fair  and  just  op(.n- 
in«j:  I'or  res(,.riiii;  harmony  and  aireclioiiale  iiitcreours(>."  N«, 
piiMie  Iiody  ever  «,'aine(l  ho  full  and  iiiianinioiis  a  reco^Miition 
ot  its  int Clarity  and  its  wisdom  m  the  jj;en(-ral  con^'ress  of  I  774. 
Its   policy  spruiiij:  f^o  iiecessarily  out   of  the   ri'lalioiis  of   freo 

* "''"i''''   <<•   <'i«'ii-   colonies,   that,  within   a   few  years    it-  waH 

mloptc.l  l.y  all  Ihitish  Hlatesmen,  and  for  thnv  (piarterH  of  a 
century  rc,y;nlated  the  colonial  a«hiiiiiislration  of  every  succes- 
sive ministry,  till  it,  linally  nave  way  to  a  system  of  navi^r„fi„n 
even  far  iiior(>  liberal  than  the  American  <'on..r(>ss  had  ven- 
tured to  propose. 

The  day  after  JManklin's  (irst conversation  with  Lord  IIowo, 
('hatham  received  him  at,  Hayes.  "The  con^nvs.s,"  said  he,' 
"  is  the  most  honoral.lea.ss(>ml)ly  o\'  statesiiKMi  since  those  of  the 
iincient  (Ireeks  and  liomans  '"a  tin;  most,  virtuous  times."  Ho 
thought  tlu>  p(>titioii  to  (he  kiufjf  'M(>ce!it,  manly,  and  properly 
expre.s.sed."  lie  (piestioned  the  assertion  (hat  (li(>  keepinj.^  iij) 
an  army  in  the  colonies  in  time  of  p(«ac(>  required  their  con- 
sent;  with  that  exception,  he  admired  and  honored  the  whole 
of  tlit>  procee<liMi:;s.  "The  army  at  lioston,"  said  Franklin, 
"cannot  aiisw(>r  any  pxvd  purpose,  and  may  ho  inlinitely  mis- 
chievous. No  aceommodatitm  can  he  propt>rIy  entered  into  by 
the  Americans  while  (he  bayonet  is  at  their  breasts.  To  liavo 
an  a,i;reiMiuMit  bindino;,  all  force  should  bo  withdrawn."  Tho 
words  sank  dee])|y  into  the  mind  of  Chatham,  and  ho  prom- 


*f»:: 


lU) 


!)!) 


'771  1775.   Till;  r()i;i:ri.:i,:NTii  iumtism  I'aijijamknt. 

NHnnv    or  Kn,|,.n,,|.     M   shall  I.  ...,|   ,„.„,„„,,,;,,,,;  ,;' 

/"  ";;'V"'r  """•""•.v "M  ''-H..i.j..H,io...i,i'i„K:r..o;n ; 

t(ls«   liolll    tllollt,  iiIkI   (Ihv."  ".),lim,r 

'I  o   MMll.|   rvn-y  I,,;.,,..!.  .,r  „.,.  opp..,i,i.,n    In   on.   Ii„<    .f 
>'>l-'7,  H.alJ,,.,,n  .l..s.r..Ja.,„.<liuI  j.n.Hio,.  will.   ||„.  K..,.i.i„.,.. 

'•'-'- o<  Ion  .s,  :„.,|  |„  ,,,HHM.H.M,f  .onnnons  u..  nou^ 
'"    ;''"''    ''   '"•'•■"•'  <"'pl''tli.ully  I,  took    in   Ih,     y,,„.  17,;,;. 

-  A,n,.n,.:n,Mwo,.M   moI    pn-scTv.  IIh.;,-  ..Muni.nilv,  and  ,|,u 
aH|u.<..on,,,,,.,,i.,,„^.,,„,       II.Mv.sH<illLn.|IvM,,,.o    l' 

(lKU,.:n>ni.sthc!...HtlH.w..ran,.|.ororil..,..iMiHfr; 

<'';''<'';H..<livI.K..|||,Hf,,,Tiluas  ,,..;.,•,  aiMlnM,!.!  l„..v,.rM 
""'.V  I.y  InuUn...  IlK,  as.s..rli<„.  I.y  parliam,..!,  of  i,,s  al.sol,  to 
1-.V..  n.  all  c.:.s.M  wl>a.:.vn..  To  Cn-.W  ll.a,,  ..,..1,  Ih.  !  I^ 
Hfafosman   p:n.l  a  visit  fo  !{od<i„.,|,a,M.     At  its  o,,.,.!,,-.  Chal- 

-nH.>unt..,nuu.o  lK.auK.l  will,  c-onlialily;  I,„t^^.Hd^rI^^^^ 
...•.v,.rs,.ly  ,„s,stcMl  on  n.ainlainir.^.  tl.o  dcHaratory  arl      l^Th,, 
A..u>n<.ans  hav.  not  ,.all..,l  for  i,,  repeal,"  was  l.'L  reply  to  all 

:'^'*"''^-'''; ';'•''''•-'-■-  eonNl  I.  n.do   to  eon.pn.lLi^ 
-..ress  had  restraine,)   itsHl'  only  fn>n.  a  rehu-  anc-e  !<     ' 

Decune  iielph'ss,  ' 

No.f  Ks  M.n.pe.,  w,M-e  .nln^Mii.jr  t<,  ^..t  J.in.  Inrn-d  out  and 
^-|>l-y.M>i.lu.dl>va.hon>„.hasserlor..f|;n,i.,.  ,,,,,,,,;.    "^ 

A  aeal.nu.  ,.o,„n.iMK.!donthetweinh,,fdanuay  177^' 
iHs  ollea.n,es  .vfused  to  tind  in  the  proeeedin..s  of  ;.,.,: 
any    ono,.aI,iH,,sis  ,op  eoneiliation.     It  was  the^lWe  re  C 

io.>al,  and  1o  deelare  all  others  trnitora  and  rebels 

At   the   nu.etin,^^   of    parlianu^nt  after  the  holidays,   Lord 
North  presented  pape,.  relating  to  An.eriea.     TU.y  ,;enHud<^ 


i    i' 


'Hi 


100 


AMKIUCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKNCK. 


i:r.  MI. ;  cii.  VI, 


Clmtham  of  Lliu  KtatcHimin  who  Hiiiil  to  his  roii  :  "Seo  with 
how  littlo  wisdom  this  world  of  ours  is  govL-niud;"  and  ho 
picturod  to  himself  Ximenod  and  Cortus  in  the  bhadoa  dirtcuss- 
ing  the  murits  of  tlio  ministorri  of  Kn<,Wund. 

Tho  twentieth  (;f  January  1775  was  tho  first  day  of  tho 
bcssioii  in  tlio  liousu  of  l(jrds.     It  is  not  probables  that  even 
ono  of  tho  i)eorH  had  Jicurd  of  tho  settlements  beyond  tl.o 
Alloglumies,  whero  tho  Watauga  and  the  forks  of  Ilolston  How 
to  tho  Tennessee.     Yet,  on  tho  same  day,  tiie  lords  of  that 
region,  most  of  them  Presbyterians  of  Scottish-Irish  descent, 
met  in  cou;icil  near  Abingdon.     Their  united  congregations, 
having  sulfered  from  babballis  too  mncli  profaned,  or  wasted 
in  melancholy  eilenro  at  liomc,  had  called  Charles  Cummings 
to  tho  pastoral  charge  of  tiieir  pr^'ious  and  immortal  souls. 
Tho  men  never  went  to  public  worship  without  being  armed, 
or  without  tlicir  families.     Their  minister,  on  sabbath  morn- 
ing, would  ride  to  the  service  armed  with  shot-pouch  and  rille. 
Their  moeting-bouso  was  a  largo  cabin  of  unliewn  logs;  and, 
when  about  twice  in  tJic  year  tho  bi-cad  and  cup  wer^ distrib- 
uted, tho  tal)le  was  siuvad  outside  of  tlio  church  in  tho  neigh- 
boring grove.     Tho  news  from  congress  reached  them  slow?y ; 
but,  on  receiving  an  account  of  what  had  been  done,  they 
assembled  in  convention,  and   tho   spirit  of  freedom  swept 
through  their  minds  as  naturally  as  the  ceaseless  forest  M'ind 
sways  tho  firs  on  the  sides  of  the  Black  Mountains.     They  ad- 
hered unanimously  to  tho  association  of  congress,  and  named 
a?  their  committee  Charles  Cummings  their  minister,  Preston, . 
Christian,  Arthur  Campbell,  John  Cami)bell,  Evan  Shelby,' 
and  others.     Adopting  the  delegates  of  Virginia  as  their  rep- 
resentatives, they  addressed  them  as  men  whose  conduct  would 
immortalize  them  in  its  annals.     "  Wo  explored,"  said  they, 
'-our  n I icultivated  wilderness,  bordering  on  many  nations  of 
savi.pe.'^  and  surroimded  by  mountains  almost  inaccessible  to 
any  but  t  eso  savages ;  but  even  to  these  remote  regions  tho 
hand  of  power  hath  pursued  us,  to  strip  us  of  that  liberty  and 
property  with  which  God,  nature,  and       -  rights  of  humanity 
have  vested  us.    We  are  willing  to  conti  ii)ut.>  all  in  our  power, 
if  applied  to  constitutionally,  but  cannot  tLink  of  submitting 
our  liberty  or  property  to  a  venal  Britisb  parliament  or  a  cor- 


Mi 


U'<  'I 


1775. 


Tlir:   FOURTEENTH   UniTISfl   PAHIJAMENT. 


101 


n.pt  inuustry.  Wo  are  duliberately  and  resolutely  determined 
never  to  Hurrendor  any  of  our  inesti.uabie  privile^^es  T  an v 
power  upon  earth  but  at  tl.e  expense  of  our  lives.  ^  TI.ese  arc 
om  ea  though  unpoh.shed  Bentinu.nts  of  liberty  and  loyalty. 
and  in  them  we  are  resolved  to  live  and  die." 


While  they  wore  pul)lishin|r  the  dcclarati.m  which  they 
were  sure  to  n.ake  good,  Chatham  was  atteu.ptinj.  to  rouse' the 
uun,s  ry  fnun  Us  n.lifFerenco.  IJy  a  special  appoint.nent  1  o 
n  1 1  rankhn  n.  the  lobby  of  .he  house  of  lords  and  saying  to 
Imn  Uur  presence  at  this  day's  debate  ^^ill  be  of  more  sor- 
vice  to  America  than  mine,"  he  walked  with  him  arm  in  arm 
ana  placed  hnn  conspicuously  below  t/ie  bar 

S.,  soon  as  Dartmouth  had  laid  the  papers  before  the  house, 
t  imtham,  after  mve.ghing  against  the  dilatoriness  of  the  com! 
mumcation  nun-ed  to  address  the  king  IW  -immediate  orders 
to  remove  the  forces  from  the  toua  of  JJoston  as  soon  as  pos- 

"My  lords!"  he  continued,  "the  way  must  be  imme- 
ckitely  opened  for  reconciliation;  an  hour  now  lost  may  pro- 
uuce  years  of  calamity.  This  measure  of  recalling  the  troops 
from  Boston  is  preparatory  to  the  restoration  of  your  peace 
and  the  establishment  of  your  prosperity. 

''Ptesistancc  to  your  acts  was  necessary  as  it  was  just;  and 
your  vain  declarations  of  the  omnipotence  of  parliament  and 
yomMmperious  doctrines  of  the  necessity  of  submission,  will 
be  found  equally  impotent  to  convince  or  enslave  your  fellow- 
subjects  in  Anierica,  who  feel  that  tyranny,  whether  ambi- 
tioned  by  an  individual  part  of  the  legislature,"  so  he  described 
the  lung  or  by  the  bodies  who  compose  it,  is  equally  intoler- 
able to  British  subjects. 

*' The  means  of  enforcing  this  thraldom  are  as  weak  in 
practice  as  they  are  unjust  in  principle.  General  Gage  and 
the  troops  nnder  his  command  are  penned  up,  pining  in  inglo- 
nous  inactivity.  They  are  an  army  of  impotence;  and,  to 
make  the  folly  equal  to  the  disgrace,  they  are  an  amy  of  irri- 
tation. Lut  this  tamencss,  however  contemptible,  cannot  bo 
censured;  for  the  first  drop  of  blood  shed  in  civil  and  un- 
natural war  wil  n.ake  a  wound  that  years,  perhaps  ages,  ma, 
not  heal.     Their  force  would  be  most  disproportionately  oi 


•?,  ijH  i-«-,.;«i»i;-^ 


102  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       •  ^  m. ;  en.  ti. 

crted  against  a  bravo,  generous,  and  united  people  M'ith  arms 
in  tlicir  hands  and  courage  in  their  hearts :  three  niilhons  of 
people,  the  genuine  descendants  of  a  valiant  and  pious  ances- 
try,^ driven  to  those  deserts  by  the  narrow  maxims  of  a  super- 
stitious tyranny.  And  is  the  spirit  of  persecution  never  to 
be  appeased  ?  Are  the  brave  sons  of  those  brave  forefathers 
to  inhei-it  their  sulferings,  as  they  have  inherited  tlieir  virtues  i 
They  have  been  condemned  unheard.  Tlie  indiscriminate 
hand  of  vengeance  has  lumped  together  innocent  and  guilty  ; 
with  all  the  formalities  of  hostility,  has  blocked  up  the  town 
of  Boston,  and  reduced  to  beggary  and  famine  thirty  thousand 
inhabitants. 

"  But  his  majesty  is  advised  that  the  union  in  America  can- 
not last!  I  pronounce  it  a  union,  solid,  permanent,  and  effec- 
tual. ^  Its  real  stamina  are  the  cultivators  of  the  land ;  in  their 
sinpliclty  of  life  is  found  the  integrity  und  courage  of  free- 
dom. These  true  sons  of  the  earth  are  invincible.  What 
though  you  march  from  town  to  town  and  from  province  to 
province !  ilow  shall  you  be  able  to  secure  the  obedience  of 
the  country  you  leave  behind  you  in  your  progress  to  grasp 
the  dominion  of  eighteen  hundred  miles  of  continent? 

"  The  spirit  which  now  resists  your  taxation  in  America  is 
the  same  which  formerly  opposed  loans,  benevolences,  and 
ship-money  in  England  ;  the  same  which,  by  the  bill  of  ri<dits 
vindicated  the  English  constitution ;  the  same  which  estab- 
hshed  the  essential  maxim  of  your  liberties,  that  no  subject  of 
England  shall  be  taxed  but  by  his  own  consent.  This  glorious 
spirit  of  whiggism  animates '  three  millions  in  America,  aided 
by  every  wliig  in  England,  to  the  amount,  I  hope,  of  double 
the  American  numbers.     Ireland  they  have  to  a  man. 

_  "Let  this  distinction  then  remain  forever  ascertained:  tax- 
ation Is  theirs,  commercial  regulation  is  ours.  They  say  you 
have  no  right  to  tax  them  without  their  consent;  they 'say 
truly.  I  recognise  to  the  Americans  their  supremo,  unalien- 
able right  in  tlieir  property,  a  right  which  they  are  justified  in 
the  defence  of  to  the  last  extremity.  To  maintain  this  princi- 
ple is  the  great  common  cause  of  the  whigs  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  and  on  this.  '  'Tis  liberty  to  liberty  engaged ; ' 
the  alliance  of  God  and  nature,  immutable  and  eternal. 


1775.  THE  FOUETEENTH  BRITISH  PARLIAMENT.  103 

"To  such  united  force,  what  force  shall  bo  opposed?  A 
few  regimeuts  in  America,  and  seventeen  or  eighteen  thousand 
men  at  home  Ihe  idea  is  too  ridiculous  to  take  up  a  moment 
of  your  lordslnps'  tune.  Unless  the  fatal  acts  are  done  away, 
the  hour  of  danger  must  arrive  in  all  its  horrors,  and  then 
these  boastful  numsters,  spite  of  all  their  coniidence,  shall  be 
forced  to  abandon  principles  which  they  avow,  but  cannot  de- 
fend; measures  which  they  presume  to  attempt,  but  cannot 
nope  to  effectuate. 

"  It  is  not  repealing  a  piece  of  parchment  that  can  restore 
America  to  our  bosom  ;  you  must  repeal  her  fears  and  her  re- 
sentments and  you  may  then  hope  for  her  love  and  gratitude. 
United  as  they  are,  you  cannot  force  them  to  your  unworthy 
tenns  of  submission.  ^ 

"  When  your  lordships  look  at  the  papers  transmitted  us 
from  America,  when  you  consider  their  decency,  firmness,  and 
wisdom,  you  cannot  but  respect  their  cause,  and  wish  to  make 
It  your  own.     For  myself,  I  must  avow  that  in  all  my  reading, 
-and  I  have  read  Thucydides  and  have  studied  and  admired 
the  master-states  of  the  worid-for  solidity  of  reason,  force  of 
sagaci  y,  and  wisdom  of  conclusion  under  a  complication  of 
ditticult  circumstances,  no  body  of  men  can  stand  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  general  congress  at  Philadelphia.     The  histories  of 
Greece  and  Lome  give  us  nothing  equal  to  it,  and  all  attemptB 
to  impose  servitude  upon  such  a  mighty  continental  nation 
must  be  yani.     ^Vo  shall  be  Torced  ultimately  to  retract ;  let  us 
retrac   while  .ve  can,  not  when  we  must.     These  violent  acts 
must  bo  repealed  ;  you  will  repeal  them;  I  stake  my  reputa- 
tion on  It,  that  you  will  in  the  end  repeal  them.     Avoid,  then 
this  hunnhatmg  necessity.     With  a  dignity  becoming  youi- 
exal  ed  situation,  make  the  fii-st  advances  to  concord,  peace 
and  happiness,  for  that  is  your  tme  dignity.     Concession  comes 
with  better  grace  from  superior  power,  and  establishes  sohd 
conhdence  on  the  foundations  of  aifection  and  gratitude     Bo 
the  hrst  to  spare;  throw  down  the  weapons  in  your  luuul 

Lvery  motive  of  justice  and  policy,  of  dignity  and  of 
piudence,  urges  you  to  allay  the  ferment  in  America  by  a 
removal  of  your  troops  from  Boston,  by  .  epeal  of  your  acts 
of    parbament,  and   by  demonstrating  amicable  dispositions 


H' 


n 


'  ■■  ■  I 


104  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELr-DEFE.NXE.     bp.  „,. ,  en.  „. 

toward  jonr  colonica.     On  the  other  hand,  to  deter  you  from 
pet^everance  m  j„„r  present  r„h.ous  n.eakres,  cve,y  da  1 
■.ma  every  hazard  hnpend,  foreign  war  ha„gi„.  over  you   fa 
hread,  i  ranee  and  Spain  watehing  your  eomh^t,  and  waiL 

lor  tiio  nrntui-ity  of  your  errors.  ^ 

}.J  ^^  !!'"  f  !'"^'^f  ■'  persevere  in  thus  nnsadvlsing  and  mis- 
eadmg  ^ho  kn,.  will  not  say  that  the  king-  is  betted,  bu" 
I  wd  pronounce  that  the  kingdozn  is  undone;  I  will  no!  say 
that  they  can  alienate  the  airections  of  his  subjects  from  his 
cro^vn,  but  I  M-ill  affirm  that,  the  American  ieiel  out  of  il 
they  will  iuako  the  crown  not  worth  his  wearino- " 

The  words  of  Chatham,  when  reported  to  the  king,  recalled 
h.  last  mterview  with  George  Grenville,  and  stung  him  to  th 

™fh  V        •        '^''r'  '"""^^^^^  the  greatest  states- 

vod  of  gratitude";  and  u.onths  afterward  M^as  lookin-.  foi' 
tiiehme'Mvhcnideci-^^^^  put  an  end  to  him 

as  tJie  trumpet  of  sedition." 

With  a  Mdiining  deHvcry,  of   which  the  bad  effect  was 
heightened  by  violence,  Suffolk,  who  boasted  of  having  been 

tTa'tln  •^"'  f  ;^^7^^r"i^-  measures,  assured  thcThouse 
that,  in  spite  of  Lord  Chatham's  prophecy,  the  government 
was  resolved  to  repc.  1  not  one  of  the  acts,  but  to  ule  all  po  si- 
ble  means  to  bring  the  Americans  to  obedience.  ^ 

fehelburne  gave  his  adhesion  to  the  sentiments  of  Chatham, 
not  from  personal^  engagements,  but  solely  from  his  conviction 
01  their  wisdom,  justice,  and  propriety.     Camden,  who  in  the 
discussion  surpassed  every  one  but  Chatham,  returned  to  his 
old  ground.     ;^This,"  he  declared,  '  I  will  say,  nc^  only  as  a 
statesman,  politician,  and  philosopher,  but  as  a  common  lau-yer  • 
my  lords,  you  have  no  right  to  tax  America ;  the  natural  rights 
of  man  and  the  immutable  laws  of  nature  are  all  with  iiat 
people.     Jving,  lords,  and  commons  are  line-sounding  names- 
but  king  lords  and  commons  may  become  tyrants  as  well  as 
others;  it  is  as  lawful  to  resist  the  tyranny  of  many  as  of  one. 
Somebody  once  asked  the  great  Selden  in  whai  book  you 
might  find  the  law  for  resisting  tyranny.     '  It  has  always  been 
the  custom  of  England,'  answered  Selden,  'and  the  custom  of 
ii^ngland  is  the  law  of  the  land.' " 


1773. 


THE  FOURTEEXTII  CRITLSII  PARLIAMENT. 


105 

"My  lords,"  said  Lord  Gowor,  with  contemptuous  sneers, 
let  the  Americans  talk  about  their  natural  and  divine  ri^^hts  i 
^Zn?f  '%"''"  and  citizens!  their  rights  from  God  and 
natuie  I  am  for  enforcing  these  measures."  Rochford  held 
Lord  Cliatham  jointly  with  the  Americans,  responsible  in  his 
own  person  for  disagreeable  consequences.  Lyttelton  re- 
proached Chatham  with  spreading  the  lire  of  sedition,  and  the 
Americans  with  designing  to  emancipate  themselves  from  the 
act  or  navigation. 

Chatham  closed  the  debate  by  insisting  on  the  rio-ht  of 
Great  l^ritam  to  regulate  the  commerce  of  the  whole  empire- 
but  as  to  the  riglit  of  the  Americans  to  exemption  from  \a'l 
tion,  except  by  their  implied  or  express  assent,  they  derived  it 
from  God,  nature  and  the  British  constitution.  I^nldin  with 
rapt  admiration  listened  to  the  man  who  on  that  day  had  united 
the  lughes  wisdom  and  eloquence.  "His  speech,"  said  the 
youngWilham  Pitt,  ''  was  the  most  forcible  that  can  be  L.l 
mod;  in  matter  and  manner  far  beyond  what  1  can  express"- 

crowded  with  Americans."  ^ 

The  statesnianship  of  Chatham  and  the  close  reasoning  of 

Camden  -availed  no  more  than  the  wliistling  of  the  winds-" 

^e  motion  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  sixty-eight  against  eightee; ; 
but  the  duke  of  Cumberland,  one  of  the  king's  own  brothers 
was  found  m  the  minority.     The  king,  triumphing  in  "the 
very  handsome  majority,"  was  sure  "  nothing  could  be  more 
calculated  to  bring  the  Americans  to  submission,-"  but  the 
debate  of  that  day,  notwithstanding  Rockinghan.  had  expressed 
his  adherence  to  his  declaratory  act,  went  forth  to  the  colonies 
as  an  assurance  that  the  inevitable  war  would  be  a  war  with  a 
ministry,  not  with  the  British  people.     It  took  from  the  con- 
test the  character  of  internecine  hatred,  and  showed  that  the 
true  spirit  ol  England,  which  had  grown  great  by  freedom 
was  on  the  side  of  An.erica.     Its  independence  wa'  fo^est:^: 
owed,  and  three  of  Chatham's  hearers  on  that  day-Franklin, 
Shelburne,  and  his  own  son,  William  Bitt-never  wearied  in 
their  exertions  till  their  joint  efforts  established  peace  between 
Lritam  and  the  United  States  of  America. 


I 


!  I 


106         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III.  ;  CH.  VII. 


I  i 


if^ 


CHAPTER  YII. 

PARLIAMENT  DECLARES   MASSACHUSETTS   IN  REBELLION, 

January-February  1775. 

J^EiTiiER  the  king  nor  Lis  ministers  believed  tlie  iiearty 
union  of  so  vast  a  region  as  America  possible.     But,  at  the 
one  extreme,  Xew  Hampshire  in  convention  unanimously  ad- 
hered to  tlie  recent  congress,  and  elected  delegates  to  tlie  next 
A^t^  tlie  other.  South  Carolina,  on  the  eleventh  of  January 
lu5,  held  a  general  meeting,  which  was  soon  resolved  into 
a  provincial  congress,  with  Charles  Pinckney  for  president. 
The  deputies  to  the  general  congress  were  then  called  upon 
to  explain  why  they  had  not  included  in  the  list  of  grievances 
the  entire  scries  of  monopolies  and  restrictions;  'and   they 
murmured  at  the  moderation  of  Virginia,  which  had  refused 
to  look  further  back  than  17G3.     But  South  Carolina  wisely 
adopted  the  continental  measures  without  change,  completed 
her  own  internal  organization,  elected  deleiyatcs  to  the  general 
congress,  encouraged  her  inhabitants  to  learn  the  use  of  arms 
and  asked  their  i)rayers  that  God  would  defend  their  just  title 
to  freedom,  and  "avert  tlie  impending  calamities  of  civil  war  » 
H  blood  should  be  spilled  in  Massachusetts,  her  sons  were  to 
rise  in  arms. 

On  the  twelfth,  the  representati\-es  of  the  extensive  district 
of  Darien,  in  Georgia,  assembling  in  a  local  congress,  held  up 
tlie  conduct  of  Massachusetts  to  the  imitation  of  mankind 
joined  in  the  resolutions  of  the  grand  American  congress,  and 
mstructed  their  delegatcG  to  the  provincial  congress  accord- 
ingly. They  demanded  liberal  land  laws  to  attract  the  dis- 
tressed in  Britain  and  "  the  poor  of  every  nation."     "  To  show 


1775.      MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  I>T  REBELLION.        107 

the  world,"  tl.ese  were  their  words,  "  that  wo  are  not  influenced 
by  contracted  or  interested  motives,  but  a  general   philan- 
thropy for  all  mankind,  of  whatever  climate,  language,  or  com- 
plexion, we  hereby  declare  our  disapprobation  and  abhorrence 
ot  the  unnatural  practice  of  slavery  in  America  (however  the 
uneult.vated  state  of  our  country  or  other  specious  arguments 
m^Y  plead  for  it);  a  practice  founded  in  injustice  and  crueltv 
and  highly  dangerous  to  our  liberties  as  well  as  lives,  debasing 
par   of  our  fellow-creatures  below  men,  corrupting  the  morals 
ol  the  rest,  and  laying  the  basis  of  that  liberty  we  contend  for 
upon  a  very  wrong  foundation.     We  therefore  resolve  at  all 
tunes  to  use  our  utmost  endeavors  for  the  manumission  of  our 
slaves  m  this  colony,  upon  the  most  safe  and  equitable  footing 
for  the  masters  and  themselves." 

_  The  provincial  congress,  which  was  called  to  meet  on  the 
eighteenth  at  Savannah,  failed  of  its  end,  since  five  only  out 
of  tM^elve  parishes  in  the  province  were  represented,  and  some 
of  these  were  bound  to  ualf-way  measures  by  their  instructions. 
Ibe  legislature,  which  simultaneously  assembled,  was  suddenly 
prorogued  by  the  royal  governor.  But  in  the  parish  of  St 
John,  which  contained  one  third  of  the  wealth  of  Geoi'gia  the 
inhabitants,  chiefly  descendants  of  New  England  people, 'con- 
formed to  the  resolutions  of  the  continental  congress,  appointed 
Lyman  Hall  to  represent  them  in  Philadelphia,  and  set  arart 
two  hundred  barrels  of  rice  for  their  brethren  in  Boston 

In  December  1774,  the  Maryland  convention  had  recom- 
mended to  the   inhabitants  of  the  province  to  form  them- 
selves into  companies  of  sixty-eight  men  under  officers  of  their 
own  choice,  and  had  apportioned  among  the  several  counties 
the  sum  of  ten  thousand  pounds  in  currency,  to  be  raised  by 
subscription  or  voluntary  offerings  for  the  purchase  of  arms 
Of  this  resolve  the  Virginia  Fairfax  county  committee,  whose 
chairman  Avas  Washington,  on  the  seventeenth  of  January  1775 
adopted  the  substance,  and  Washington  publislied  it  signed 
with  his  o^^■n  name.     A  company,  composed  of  "the  sons  of 
gentlemen  "  in  his  neighborhood,  elected  him  their  commander, 
i^very  county  in  Virginia  glowed  with  zeal  to  imbody  its  mi- 
Jitia :  marksmen,  armed  with  rifles,  chose  the  costume  of  the 
pamted  huutiug-shirt  and  moceasons.     They  pledged  them- 


M 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  c.i.  v.i. 

selves  to  eacli  otl.er  to  keep  a  good  fireloc'c,  ammunition,  bul- 
kt-moukls,  powder-horn,  and  bag  for  balls.  The  committee  of 
Aorthanipton  county  offered  a  premium  for  the  manufacture 
ot  gunpou'der.  As  Dunmore  persisted  in  proro-uino-  the  Vir- 
gi.ua  assembly,  Peyton  Randolph,  as  the  organ  ^f  the  peoj.le 
agamst  the  representative  of  the  crown,  directed  the  choice  of 
aeputies  to  a  colony  convention  in  March. 

The  inhabitants  of  Maryland  would  hoar  of  no  opposition 
to  the  recommendations  of  congress.     An  armed  organization 
sprung  up  m  Delaware.    Crown  officers  and  royalists  practised 
every  art  to  separate  New  York  from  the  general  union.    The 
president  of  its  chartered  college  taught  that  "Christians  are 
required  to  be  subject  to  the  higher  powers;  that  an  apostle 
enjomed  submission  to  Nero;"  that  the  friends  of  the  Amer- 
ican congress  were  as  certainly  guilty  of  "an  m.pardonable 
ciine  as  that  St.  Paul  and   St.  Peter  were   inspired  men." 
lliere  the  Episcopal  clergy  fomented  a  distnist  of  the  New 
England  people  as  "  rebellious  republicans,  intolerant  toward 
the  church  of  England  and   Quakers   and   Baptists,  doubly 
mtolerant  toward  the  Germans  and  Dutch.''      There  a  cor 
rupting  mfluonco  grew  out  of  contracts  for  the   British  ser- 
vice.    Ihe  t.mid  were  alarmed  by  stories  that  "the  undisci- 
phned  men  of  America  could  not  withstand  disciplined  sol- 
diers;    that  "Canadians  and  unnumbered  tribes  of  sava^^es 
inight  be  let  loose  upon  them;"  and  that,  in  case  of  war,  "die 
Americans  must  be  treated  as  vancpiished  rebels."    New  York 
too,  was  the  seat  of  a  royal  government  which  dispensed  com^ 
missions,  ofhc-es,  and  grants  of  land,  gathered  round  its  little 
court  a  social  circle  to  which  loyalty  gave  the  tone,  and  had 
for  more   han  eight  years  craftily  conducted  the  admuiistration 
with  the  design  to  lull  discontent.     It  permitted  the  assembly 
to  employ  Edmund  Burke  as  its  agent.     In  the  name  of  the 
mnnstry^  ,t  lavished  promises  of  favor  and  indulgence;  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  tue  province  at  the  north  to  the  Con- 
necticut nver;  and,  contrary  to  the  sense  of  right  of  Lord 
Dartmouth,  supported  the  claims  of  New  York  to  Vermont 
lands  against  the  populous  villages  which  had  grown  up  under 
grants  from  1  le  king's  governor  of  New  Hampshire     Both 
Tryon  and  Colden  professed  a  sincere  desire  to  take  part  with 


1775.       MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  U    t^EBELLION.         109 

the  colony  in  ohtaining  a  redress  of  all  grievances  and  an  im- 
provement  of  its  constitution;  and  Uurtmouth  was  made  to 
utter  the  ho|x^  "of  a  happy  acconnnodation  upon  some  -enenil 
eonstihmonal  plan."  Such  a  union  with  the  parent  state  the 
JNew  York  connrnttee  declared  to  be  the  object  of  their  earnest 
solicitude;  and  Jay  "hold  nothing  in  greater  abhorrence  than 
tJie  inahgnant  charge  of  aspiriug  after  independence."  "  If  you 
had  the  complaints  of  your  constituents  to  be  well  grounded  " 
said  Cold.n  to  the  Kew  York  assembly  in  January,  ''suppli- 
cate the  throne  and  our  most  gracious  sovereign  will  hear  and 
relieve  you  with  paternal  tenderness." 

In  this  manner  one  colony  was  to  be  won  for  a  separate 
negotiation.  The  royalists  were  persuaded  of  the  success 
of  heir  scheme;  and  Gage,  who  had  a  little  before  written  for 
at  least  twenty  thousand  men,  sent  word  to  the  secretary,  in 
January,  that,  "if  a  respectable  force  is  seen  in  the  iield  the 
most  obnoxious  of  the  leaders  seized,  and  a  pardon  proclaimed 
tor  all  othei-s,  government  will  come  olf  victoi-ious,  and  with 
less  opposition  than  was  expected  a  few  mouths  ao-o  " 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  of 
the  J^few  lork  assembly,  moved  to  take  into  consideration  the 
proceedings  of  the  continental  congress ;  but,  though  he  was 
ably  seconded  by  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  by  Philip  Schuyler,  by 
George  Umton,  and  by  the  larger  number  of  the  members  Nvho 
were  of  Dutch  descent,  the  vote  was  lost  by  a  majority  of  one. 
1  hat  one  vote  was  worth  a  million  sterling,"  said  Gamier 
toRochford,  with  an  air  of  patronage,  on  hearing  tlio  news; 
wmle  he  explained  to  Vergennes  that  the  vote  was  to  the  min- 
istry wortji  nothing  at  all,  that  Xew  York  was  sure  to  act  with* 
the  rest  of  the  continent.     The  assembly,  now  in  its  seventh 
year,  bad  long  since  ceased  to  represent  the  ])eople 

_  In  January  the  Quakers  of  Peimsylvania  published  an 
episle,  declaring  that  they  would  religiously  observe  the  rule 
not  to  hght;  and  the  meethig  of  the  Friends  of  Pennsylvania 
andAew  Jersey  gave  their  "  testimony  against  every  usurpa- 
tion of  power  and  authority  in  opposition  to  the  laws  of  gov- 
ernment. In  the  same  montli  tlie  popular  convenaon  of  Penn- 
sylvania was  disinclined  to  arm  the  people ;  but  the  membei-s 
pledged  their  constituents  at  every  hazard  to  defend  tlic  ri-hts 


I 


'  il!i 


Jjfejiimi  >  ..III. .  !■— ■.„■.„_ 

T«j  J'  ""■■ 


I     «ll«! 


110  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      kp.  ,„. ;  on.  v„. 

and  liberties  of  America  anc],  if  necessary,  to  resist  force  hy 
lorce  ll.ey  rcconunended  domestic  manufactures,  and  led  tho 
way  to  a  law  "prohibiting  the  importation  of  saves ''To 
leg.slature  of  Pennsylvania  had,  in  Decend,er,  um-t rvc^l 
approved  the  proceedings  of  the  continental  congress,'  ndt 
the  ^  next  congress  in  May  had  elected  seven  dcleg.Ses 

J^o  not  give  up,"  wrote  the  town  of  ]\ronmouth'  ir  Fow 
Jersey,  to  the  Bostonians;  -uul  if  you  should  wan  '  /  Z 
ther  supply  of  bread,  let  us  Icnow."  On  the  twentv-fourtl  of 
January  the  assembly  of  that  colony,  without  a'  dissenting 
vo.ce,  adopted  the  n.easures  of  the  last  general  congress  2 
elected  deegates  to  the  next.  Three  weeks  later  it  tn^ 
nutted  to  the  king  a  separate  petition  ;  but  it  enun.er  te  Tj 
American  grievances  without  abatement 

In  February  the  assembly  of  JVew  York,  against  the  most 

delegates  to  tho  next  general  congress  by  a  vote  of  seventeen 

The  people  of  New  Yorl.  M'ere  thrown  back  upon  them- 
se  ves  under  circumstances  of  difficulty  that  had  no  parallcdTn 
othe,  eo  omes.  They  had  no  legally  constituted  body  to  form 
«^eir  rallying  point;  and,  at  a  time  when  the  conti.  ntal  cT 
gross  refused  to  sanction  any  revolutionary  institution  of  ^ov 
ernment  even  in  Massachusetts,  they  were  compelled  to  Z 
ceed  to  the  methods  of  revolution.  The  colony  ws  si  t 
ernc^e  from  all  obstacles  ;  its  first  organ  was  ^J^Z  '' 

Ueneral  Charles  Lee  denied  the  military  capacity  of  Eng- 
and,  as  she  could  with  difficulty  enlist  recruits  c  louii  to  keep 
1-r  regiments  full ;  and  he  msisted  that  in  a  few  m^ont  is  effi 
eiont  infantry  might  be  formed  of  Americans 

with  fb/'"'"r'"'-^''"'^^^'''''  ''^'''^'  dealt  more  thoroughly 
II  mi  on^T  -f^f ""  ""'  ---reattributed  to  Alexander 
I  milton,  a  gifted  young  man,  who  now  shone  like  a  star 
fi,j  seen  above  a  W  of  whose  rising  „o  one  had  taken 
no  0.  He  was  a  A\  est  Indian,  of  whoso  existence  the  first 
wntten  trace  that  has  been  preserved  is  of  ITgJ,  when^d 
nam.  occurs  as  a  witness  to  a  legal  ]>aper  cxecn  ed  m  Z 
Danish  island  of  Santa  Cruz.  ThL  ^ea^  l^l^^^ 
dent  of  the  same  island,  he  had  learned   to  "c;ntem;;  the 


%• 


1775. 


MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  LV  REBELLION. 


Ill 

grov.llln„.  condition  of  a  clerk,"  fretted  at  tl.o  nanw  bounds 
of   hs  island  cage,  and  to   a  friend  of   his  o^vn  years   con 

^  ^  1. t^rtt '"  ;'  ^^"^'  '-'''^^'y  '^''  -y  '^  '  -  ^ 

suee  sff  l\t^!„7   "'^"'""^r^  ^^-^  ^'-v^-  «^'«n  such  ..hemes 
o    wind,   1,0  entorod  ,!,„  eollogo  beforo  Iho  e°,d  oT  17  3 

2;  ff'  :.:r;rr.r''''  '■'  f '"•■■"'•^'  ^'->  --  *onoc:' 

aM  ,y  w,tl,  a  c  olcrmiuod  iutoreet  iu  tl,„cou,i,^.  stn,..»Io  1  ? 

of  thought.     "I  Talon  ■         7  if  "■■r'"""'  ""'  J""""^™ 
o   i-         X  lament,     wrote  Jfamilton,   "  the  unmfnrnl 

aruent  y  «,.!,  for  a  speedy  reeonciiiation,  a  pcrnotual  and  m,, 
na  ly  boneflcial  union.    I  am  a  wann  adv^ca  o  for  tate    C 

mon«    '.fl         .     "'    ""'"'  '  "'"  '""»'»'%  ""ached  to  tlio 

te:::::;^!;!^:;,-,^.^"'-''' '-  ^'"'  '^^-'^  -  '"^ «-'-« of 

aton'!on".V"'°l  1'r,™"''¥  ^•""  ""■«<^P™<=°  a  pound  on  tea,  an 

vXv^r-  "7"""""™'  -=1?""^  »  "-Sl't  to  tax  us  in  all  eases 
i-iiuLipie  against  which  we  contend  " 

ti.io:,?>:idT.i,t::l'°T^t,^'■^""■*;"r  ---^  p^- 
^^1-0,  rejoined  ua:x^.v^\'d'dr::  :r'- :^'^l^^^^^^^^^^ 

couples,  in  1/Go  did  the  same,  and  met  with  similar 


I 


■mi 


U^.i    Ml 


III 


!;l 


1 12  AMKRICA  ARMS  TOR  SELF-DEFKyc^K.       kp.  „,. ;  e,r.  vu. 

tmitinont  Tlu-  v>:\.oncy  of  tl.c  thm,  re.imms  vim,rou.s  ren.e- 
(lios;  uo  l.uvo  no  n-soin-co  but  in  a  ro.stri.tlon  of  our  trade,  or 
in  a  rcsiHtanco  hy  anns."  ' 

^'Dut  (i.vat  Uritain/'  it  was  .aid,  "  will  c-nforoo  l.ur  claims 
kv  fire  and  Hword.     TI.e  Anu.ri.ans  are  without  fortresso., 
Nv.tl.ou    discphne,  w.tl.out  n.ilitary  stores,  witliout  u.onev,  and 
cannot  keep  an  arn.y  in  tJ.o  ii.M  ;  norean  troops  I,e<liH(.inIi„od 
w.t hou    regular  pay  and  jrovennuent  by  an  un<juestioned  Wal 
unthonry.      A  large   nundn-r  of  anned  n.en   n.iol.t   be    "ot 
together  near  Doston,  but  in  a  wec^k  they  wo.dd  be  obbged  to 
c.sperse  to  avo.d   starving."      -Pho  c-ourag.  of  An.erfeans," 
^[V^^^'^i  \hinu\tou,  "  has  been  proved.     The  troops  (Jreat   liri^- 
I""  -uld  send  against  us  would  ho  bnt  few;  our  superiority  in 
"unLerwouhl  balanee  our  inlVriority  in  di,<eij>!ine.     It  would 
"0  J.ard,  It  not   in.praetieable,  to  subjugat.,  us  by  force.     An 
''nuan.ent  sutlieirnt  to  enslave  An.eriea  will  put  ...r  to  an  in- 
supportable expense.     She  would  be  laid  open  to  foni-n,  one- 
""':-p  I-'»»  Ji'^o 'a  cleluge  would  pour  in  Iron,  every  charter." 
(.reat  Lr.ta.n,"  xt  was  said,  -  will  seek  to  bring  us  to  a  eon,- 
pbance  by  putting  a  stop  to  our  whole  trade."     "Wo  can  bve 
without  trade,"  answered  Ilawulton;  ''food  and  clothing  we 
liuve  w.thn,   oursc.lves.     With  due  cultivation,  the  soutliei-n 
eolon.es  in  a  couple  of  years,  would  afford  cotton  enough  to 
clotlje  the  whole  continent.     Our  climate  produces  M-ooCilax 
and  hen.p.     The  si  Ik- won  n  answers  as  well  here  a.,  in  an^  i.rt' 
o^  the  world.       f  manufactures  should  once  b.  established, 
they  wdl  pave  the  M-ay  still  more  to  the  future  grandeur  and 
glory  of  Ainenca,  and  will  render  it  still  secured  against  en- 
croachmcnts  of  tyranny."  ° 

CrnJvV'-^^  ''""T^^^'^  resentment  of  the  united  inhabitants  of 
(^reat  Bntam  and  Ireland,"  objected  liis  adversaries.  "  They 
are  our  fr,en<K"  be  ret..rted  ;  "they  know  how  dangerous  tl 
tbeu-  bbert.es  the  loss  of  ours  mu.t  bo.  The  Irish  will  sympa- 
thize with  us  and  commend  our  conduct." 

The   tories   built   coniidently  upon   disunion.     "A   little 
tune     replied  iramilton,  "  will  awaken  the  colonies  from  th    r 
und>ers.     1  please  myself  with  the  flattering  prospect  Z 
they  wdl,  ere  long,  unite  in  one  indissoluble  chain  - 

It  was  a  conunon  argument  among  tlie  royali.ts  of  those 


1775.       MASSACUUSETTS  DECLARED  IN  KEBELLION.        ng 

days   that  ffoverrnncnt  was  tho  creaturo  of  civil  eoclety,  and 
there  e,  that  an  esta,,li«h.a  .ovenunont  was  not  to  bo  refi'st 

lot  .stJ.o young plul-xsophoransworecl,  rightly:  "The Supremo 
nteli^geneo    who  rules   the  world  ha^  eonstUuted    n    S 

avv  whieh  is  obligator,  npon  all  n.ankind,  prior  to  any  h  Z 

stitution  whatever.     He  gave  existence  to  man,  together^  h 

^  means  o^  preserving  and  beautif^-iug  that  exi^enc      I^  d 

r.o„  1  «,f,ty.  Natural  liberty  is  a  gift  of  the  Creator  [o  tlio 
^vhole  human  race.  Civil  liberty  is  only  natnral  liberty,  modi^ 
hod  and  seenred  by  the  sanctions  of  civil  society,     /t'i"  not 

sode^''        of  man,  as  well  as  necessary  to  the  well-being  of 

;'  TJie  colony  of  x\cw  York,"  continned  his  antagonists  "  is 
.^3jec     o  the  snpren.  legislative  authority  of  Gre.;!  U^J 

Britah^"  1  ''■'  "'?  ^^?,'^'"'  "'^  '^'^  ^^'^^^^'^^"'"^  °f  Great 
Jinta  n,  he  answered  ;  and  he  fortified  his  denial  by  an  elabo- 
rate discussion  of  colonial  history  and  charters. 

It  was  retorted  that  New  York  had  no  charter.  «Tho 
eacred  nghts  of  mankind,"  he  rejoined,  "are  not  to  be  rum- 
maged for  among  old  parchments  or  musty  records.  They  aro 
written  as  with  a  sunbeam,  in  the  whole  volume  of  human 
nature,  by  the  hand  of  the  divinity  itself;  and  can  never  bo 

Zf  7/  ""'"^  ^'^''^'''''^  ^"''''-  ^'''"'^  liberty  cannot  be 
wiested  from  any  people  without  the  most  manifold  violation 
ot  justice  and  the  most  aggravated  guilt.  The  nations  Turkey 
Kussm  I  ranee,  Spain,  and  all  other  despotic  kingdoms  in  the 
wor  d  have  an  inherent  right,  whenever  they  please,  to  shako 
oli  the  yoke  of  servitude,  though  sanctioned  by  immemorial 

^:^£t^  ""'^^  '''''''  ^°^^^^""^"^  "1^-  ^^' 'l--P^-  of 
So  reasoned  the  thoughtful  West  Indian,  as  one  who  had 
power  to  see  the  divine  archetype  of  freedom.  The  waves  of 
turbuleiit  opinion  dashed  around  him ;  cosmopolitan  Xew  York 
adopted  the  volunteer  from  the  tropics  as  her  son.  New  York 
still  desired  a  constitutional  union  of  Great  Britain  and  Amer- 

the  contirnr'''^'^''^'  '^  '"  ''''"^''  *^  '""^^'^  '°™"'°^  ''^'"  ^^^^' 

VOL.    IV.— 8 


'*i 


;     I 


1 ,   '., 


. 


114  AMKIiICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKNUE. 


Kp.  irr, ;  en.  vit. 


Thu  coiiiidfiico  of  tho  iiiim'stiy  ropoHetl  nioro  iind  more  on 
the  central  proviiicfs,  and  Dartnioutli  Htlll  took  for  granted  the 
pcacofid  Kctlk'UKnt  of  every  question;  yet  six  hloo])s-of-war 
find  two  fri<ratt's  were  under  orders  for  America,  and  it  was 
ostentatiously  Jieralded  that  seven  iiuudred  marines  from  Eng- 
land, and  four  regiments  from  Ireland,  were  to  be  prepared 
for  embarkation ;  "less  to  act  hostilely  against  tin  Americans 
than  to  encourage  tho  friends  of  government." 

In  the  liouse  of  eonniions  tlie  petitions  in  behalf  of  Amer- 
ica, inehiding  those  from  London  and  Bristol,  were  consigned 
to  a  connnitteo  of  oblivion,  and  ridiculed  as  already  ''dead  in 
law."     Ilayley,  of  London,  rebuked  tlie  levity  of  the  house. 
"  Tlio  rejection  of  the  petitions  of  the  trading  interests,"  said 
he,  on  tho  tvvciity-sixth  of  January,  '>  must  drive  on  a  civil 
war  with   America."      "The  Americans,"  argued  Jenkinson, 
"ought   to  submit  to  every  act  of   the  Knglish  legislature." 
"  England,"  said  LJnrkc,  "  is  like  the  archer  that  saw  his  own 
child  in  tlic  hands  of  the  adversary,  against  whom  he  was  going 
to  draw  his  bow."     Fox  charged  upon  North  that  the  conntry 
waa  on  the  point  of  being  involved  in  a  civil  war  by  his  inca- 
pacity.    A'orth  complained:  "The  gentleman  blames  all  my 
administration,  yet  he  defended  and  supported  ninch  of   it ; 
nor  do  I  know  how  I  have  desci-ved  his  reproaches."     "  I  can 
toll  tho  noble  lord  how,"  cried  Fox :  "  by  every  species  of  false- 
hood and  treachery."     Sir  George  Savillc  asked  that  Franklin 
might  be  heard  at  t':2  bar  in  support  of  the  address  of  the 
American  continental  congress  to  the  king;  and,  after  a  vio- 
lent debate,  tho  house,  by  tho  usual  majoiity,  refused  even  to 
receive  its  petition. 

^  The  demand  of  Gage  for  twenty  thousand  men  was  put  aside 
with  scorn.  "The  violences  committed  by  those  who  have 
taken  up  arms  in  Massachusetts  Bay,"  wrote  Dartmouth,  in  tlie 
king's  name,  "have  appeared  to  me  as  the  acts  of  a  rude  rab- 
ble, without  plan,  without  concert,  and  without  conduct ;  and 
therefore  I  think  that  a  smaller  force  now,  if  put  to  the  test, 
would  be  able  to  encounter  them.  The  first  and  essential  stop  to 
be  taken  toward  re-establishing  government  would  be  to  arrest 
and  imprison  the  principal  actors  and  abettors  in  the  provincial 
congress,  whose  pi-oceedings  appear  in  every  light  to  be  treason 


1775.       MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  IN  REIJELLIOy.        115 

and  r,.l,c.lli(,n.     If  means  I,o  deviHcd  to  keep  the  measure  secret 
until  the  moment  of  execution,  it  can  hardly  fail  of  success 
hveri  It  It  cannot   he  accomplished  without   bloodshed   and 
Hhotdd  he  a  signal  for  hostilities,  I  must  a-ain  repeat  that  any 
ellortsot  tho  people,  unprepared  to  encounter  with  a  remilar 
force,  cannot  he  very  formidable.     The  in.prisonment  of  those 
who  shall  be  made  i.risoners  will  prevent  their  doing  any 
f.irther  mischief.     The  charter  for  the  province  of  lALissuchu- 
setts  bay  empowers  the  governor  to  use  and  exercise  tho  law 
martial  m  time  of  rebellion.     Tho  attorney-  and  solicitor-gen- 
eral report  that  the  facts  stated  in  the  papers  you  liave  tmns- 
mitted  are  tho  history  of  an  actual  and  open  rebellion  in  that 
province,  and  therefore  the  exercise  of  that  power  upon  your 
own  discretion  is  strictly  justifi.-ble." 

"The  minister  must  recede,"  wrote  Oarnier  to  Yer^ennes 

or  lose  America  forever."     "  Your  chief  dependence,"  such 

were  Lrankhn's  words  to  :^rassachusetts,  "must  bo  on  your 

own  virtue  and  unanimity,  which,  under  (Jod,  will  bring  you 

through  all  ditheulties."  '^  ^ 

There  was  iio  hope  in  England  but  from  Chatham,  who 
lost  not  a  moment  in  his  endeavor  to  prevent  a  civil  war  before 
Jt  should  be  inevitably  fixed ;  saying,  -  God's  will  bo  done,  and 
Jet  the  old  and  new  world  be  my  judge."     On  the  first  day  of 
February  he  presented  his  plan  for  " tn,e  reconcilement  and 
national  accord."     It  was  foun.led  substantially  on  the  proposal 
ot  the  American  congress  ;  parliament  was  to  repeal  the  statutes 
complained  of,  and  to  renounce  the  power  of  taxation  ;  America 
in  turn  was  to  recognise  its  right  of  regulating  the  commerce 
of  the  whole  empire,  and,  by  the  free  grants  of  her  own  assem- 
blies, was  to  defray  the  expenses  of  her  governments.     This 
was  the  tnie  meaning  of  his  motion,  though  clauses  were  added 
to  make  it  less  unpalatable  to  the  i)ride  of  the  British  legisla- 
turc.     Franklin  was  persuaded  that  he  sincerely  wishe'd  to 
satisfy  the  Americans ;  Jefferson,  on  reading  the  bill,  hoped 
that  It  m^glit  bring  on  a  reconciliation;  but  Samuel  Adams 
saw  danger  lurking  under  even  a  conditional  recognition  of 
the  supremacy  of  ixiriiament,  and  said  :  "  Let  us  take  care,  lest, 
instead  of  a  thorn  in  the  foot,  we  have  a  dagger  in  the  heart." 
-No  sooner  had  Chatham  concisely  invited  the  assistance  of 


■' 


1 


I  ^ 


116  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  vii. 

the  house  in  adapting  his  crude  materials  to  the  great  end  of 
an  honorahle  and  permanent  adjustment,  than  Dartmouth  spoke 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  subject,  and  asked  his  consent  that  the 
bdl  should  lie  on  the  table  for  consideration.     "  I  expect  noth- 
ing more,"  was  the  readj  answer.     But  Sandwich,  speaking 
for  the  majority  in  the  cabinet,  intervened.     "The  proposed 
measure,"  he  said,  "  deserves  only  contempt,  and  ought  to  be 
immediately  rejected.    I  can  never  believe  it  to  be  the  produc- 
tion of  any  British  peer.     It  appears  to  me  rather  the  work  of 
some  American;"  and  looking  at  Franklin,  who  stood  leaning 
on  the  bar,  "I  fancy,"  he  continued,  "I  have  in  my  eye  the 
pepon  who  drew  it  up,  one  of  the  bitterest  and  most  mis- 
chievous enemies  this  country  has  ever  known." 

The  peers  turned  toward  the  American,  when  Chatham 
retorted:  "The  plan  is  entirely  my  own;  but,  if  I  were  the 
first  mnnster  and  had  the  care  of  settling  this  momentous 
busmess,  I  should  not  be  ashamed  of  publicly  calling  to  my 
assistance  a  person  so  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  whole  of 
American  affairs ;  one  whom  all  Europe  ranks  with  our  Boyles 
and  Newtons,  as  an  honor  not  to  the  English  nation  only,  but 
to  human  nature." 

Overawed  by  the  temper  of  the  house,  Dartmouth,  with  his 
wonted  weakness  which  made  him  adopt  the  worst  measures 
even  when  he  inclined  to  the  best,  Avheeled  round  against  his 
own  candor,  and  declared  for  rejecting  the  plan  immediately. 
This  Gower  demanded ;  this  even  Grafton  advised. 

Perceiving  the  unalterable  purpose  of  the  ministry,  Chat- 
ham poured  upon  them  a  torrent  of  invective.  "  Tliis  bill," 
said  he,  "though  rejected  here,  will  make  its  way  to  the  pub- 
lic, to  the  nation,  to  the  remotest  wilds  of  America;  and, 
however  faulty  or  defective,  it  will  at  least  manifest  how 
zealous  I  have  been  to  avert  those  storms  which  seem  ready 
to  burst  on  my  country.  Yet  I  am  not  surprised  that  men 
who  hate  liberty  should  detest  those  that  prize  it;  or  that 
those  who  want  virtue  themselves  should  persecute  those  who 
possess  it.  The  whole  of  your  political  conduct  has  been  one 
continued  scries  of  weakness  and  temerity,  despotism  and  the 
most  notorious  servility,  incap.oity  and  corruption.  I  must 
allow  you  one  merit,  a  strict  attention  to  your  own  interests; 


1775.       MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  IN  REBELLION.         117 

in  that  view,  wlio  can  wonder  tliat  jou  should  put  a  negative 
on  any  measure  which  must  deprive  you  of  your  places  and 
reduce  you  to  that  insignificance  for  which  God  and  nature 
designed  you  ? " 

Lord  Chatham's  bill,  though  on  so  important  a  subject, 
offered  by  so  great  a  statesman,  and  supported  by  most  able 
and  learned  speakers,  was  resisted  by  ignorance,  prejudice 
and  passion,  by  misconceptions  and  wilful  perversion  of  plain 
truth,  and  was  rejected  on  the  first  reading  by  a  vote  of  sixtv- 
one  to  tl;irty-two.  '  "^ 

"Hereditary   legislators!"    thought    Franklin.      "There 
would  be  more  propriety  in  having  hereditary  professors  of 
mathematicr, !     But  the  elected  house  of  commons  is  no  better 
nor  ever  will  be  while  the  electors  receive  money  for  their 
votes,  and  pay  money  wherewith  ministers  may  bribe  their 
representatives  when  chosen."     Yet  the  wilfulness  of  the  lords 
was  happy  for  America;  for  Chatham's  proposition  contained 
clauses  to  which  it  never  could  safely  have  assented,  and  yet 
breathed  a  s]^irit  which  must  have  distracted  its  councils. 
_      The  ministers  rushed  on  with  headlong  indiscretion,  think- 
ing to  subdue  the  Americans  by  intimidation.     Accordingly 
Lord  JS^orth,  on  the  day  after  Chatham's  defeat,  proposed  to  the 
commons  a  joint  address  to  the  king  to  declare  that  a  rebellion 
existed  in  Massachusetts,  and  to  pledge  their  lives  and  proper- 
ties to  its  suppression. 

''The  colonies,"  said  Dunning,  "are  not  in  a  state  of  re- 
bellion, but  resisting  the  attempt  to  establish  despotism  in 
America,  as  a  prelude  to  the  same  system  in  the  mother  coun- 
try. Opposition  to  arbitrary  measures  is  warranted  by  the 
constitution,  and  established  by  precedent."  "Nothing  but 
ttie  display  of  vigor,"  said  Thurlow,  "  will  prevent  the  Ameri- 
can colonics  becoming  independent  states." 

Grant,  the  same  ofiicer  who  had  been  scandalously  beaten 
at  Pittsburg  and  had  offended  South  Cai'olina,  asserted,  amid 
the  loudest  cheering,  that  ho  knew  the  Americans  very  well 
and  was  sure  they  would  not  fight;  « that  they  were  not  sol' 
diers,  and  never  could  bo  made  so,  being  naturally  pusillani- 
mous and  incapable  of  discipline;  that  a  very  slight  force 
would  bo  more  than  sufficient  for  their  complete  reduction  • » 


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1 18  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep,  m. ;  cu.  vn. 

and  he  mimicked  their  pecuh"ar  expressions,  and  ridiculed  their 
religious  enthusiasm,  manners,  and  ways  of  living,  greatlv  to 
the  entertainment  of  the  house. 

At  this  stage,  Fox,  displaying  for  the  first  time  the  full 
extent  of  his  abilities,  entered  into  the  history  of  the  dispute 
and  stated  truly  that  "the  reason  why  the  colonies  objected  to 
taxes  for  revenue  was,  that  such  revenue  in  the  hands  of  gov- 
ernment took  out  of  the  hands  of  the  people  to  be  governed 
the  control,  which  every  Englishman  thinks  he  ought  to  have 
over  the  government  to  which  his  rights  and  interests  are  in- 
trusted." The  defence  of  the  ministry  rested  chiefly  on  Wed- 
derburn.  Gibbon  was  prepared  to  speak,  but  neither  he  nor 
Gennain  could  And  room  for  a  single  word. 

Again  Lord  North  hesitated ;  and  Franklin,  whose  media- 
tion was  once  more  solicited,  received  a  i^aper  containing  the 
results  of  ministerial  conferences  on  "the  hints"  which  he  had 
written.     "We  desire  nothing  but  what  is  necessary  to  our 
security  and  well-being,"  said  Franklin  to  the  agents  who  came 
to  him.     They  declared,  by  authority,  that  the  repeal  of  the 
tea  act  and  the  Boston  port  act  would  be  conceded ;  the  Quebec 
act  might  be  amended  by  reducing  the  province  to  its  ancient 
limits;  but  the  Massachusetts  acts  must  be  continued,  both 
"as  real  amendments"  of  the  constitution  of  that  pro'vince 
and  "as  a  standing  example  of  the  power  of  pariiament"' 
Franklin's  reply  was  brief:    "While  parliament  claims  the 
right  of  altering  American  constitutions  at  pleasure,  tJiere  can 
be  no  agreement,  for  we  are  rendered  unsafe  in  every  privi- 
lege."    "  An  agreement  is  necessary  for  America,"  it  was  an- 
swered ;  "it  is  so  easy  for  Britain  to  burn  all  your  seaport 
towm.'     "My  little  property,"  rejoined  Franklin,  "consists 
ot  houses  in  those  towns;  make  bonfires  of  them  whenever 
you  please ;  the  fear  of  losing  them  will  never  alter  my  reso- 
lution to  resist  to  the  last  the  claim  of  pariiament." 

When  on  the  sixth  of  February  the  address  was  repori:ed 
to  the  house,  Lord  John  Cavendish  earnestly  "  deprecated 
civil  war,  necessarily  involving  a  foreign  one."  "  A  fit  and 
proper  resistance/'  said  Wilkes,  "is  a  revolution,  not  a  rebel- 
lion. Who  can  tell  whether,  in  consequence  of  this  day's  vio- 
lent and  mad  address,  the  scabbard  may  not  be  tlirown  nw^y 


1775.       MASSACHUSETTS  DECLARED  IN  REBELLION.        119 

by  the  Americans  as  well  as  by  us  ;  and,  bIk  ild  success  attend 
tliom,  wlicthor,  in  a  few  years,  the  Americans  may  not  cele- 
brate the  glorious  era  of  the  revolution  of  1775  as  we  do  tliat 
of  1G88?  Success  crowned  the  generous  elfort  of  our  fore- 
fathers for  froodom;  else  they  had  died  on  the  scaffold  as 
traitors  and  rel)els,  and  the  period  of  our  history  which  doea 
us  the  most  honor  would  have  been  deemed  a  rebellion  against 
lawful  authority,  not  the  expulsion  of  a  tyrant." 

During  tlie  debate,  which  lasted  till  "half  past  two  in  the 
morning,  Lord  Xorth  threw  off  the  responsibility  of  the  tax 
on  tea,  and  prepared  the  way  for  its  repeal  as  the  basis  for  con- 
ciliation. It  was  too  late ;  for  a  new  question  of  the  power 
of  parliament  over  charters  and  laws  had  arisen.  The  dis- 
avowal offended  his  collea^es,  and  in  itself  Mas  not  honest ; 
his  vote  in  the  cabinet  had  decided  the  measure,  and  it  was 
unworthy  of  a  minister  of  the  crown  to  intimate  that  he  had 
obsequiously  followed  a  chief  hke  Grafton,  or  yielded  his 
judgment  to  tlie  Icing. 

Lord  George  (Germain  was  fitly  selected  to  deliver  the  mes- 
sage of  the  CDinmons  at  the  bar  of  the  lords.  "  There  is  in 
the  address  cv  ^  paragraph  which  I  totally  disclaim,"  said  Rock- 
ingham ;  "  I  v/ill  risk  neither  life  nor  fortune  in  support  of  the 
measures  recommended.  Four  fifths  of  the  nation  are  op- 
posed to  this  address  ;  for  myself,  I  shall  not  tread  in  the  steps 
of  my  noblo  but  ill-fated  ancestor,  Lord  Strafford,  who  first 
courted  pojnilar  favor,  and  then  deserted  the  cause  he  had  em- 
barked in ;  iu  I  have  set  out  by  supporting  the  cause  of  the 
people,  GO  I  shall  never,  for  ajiy  temptation  whatsoever,  desert 
or  betray  thorn." 

Mansfield,  as  if  in  concert  with  North,  took  the  occasion 
to  deny  having  advised  the  tea-tax;  and  he  condemned  the 
act  as  the  most  absurd  that  could  be  imagined.  Camden,  too, 
disclaimed  having  had  the  least  hand  iu  the  measure.  "  It  is 
mean,"  said  Grafton,  "for  him  it  tliis  time  to  screen  himself, 
and  shift  the  blame  off  his  own  shouldei-s,  to  lay  it  on  those  of 
others.  The  measure  was  consented  to  in  the  cabinet.  He 
acquiesced  in  it ;  he  presided  in  the  house  of  lords  when  it 
passed  through  its  several  stages  ;  and  he  should  equally  share 
its  censure  or  its  merit." 


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ii 


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120  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  ni. ;  oh.  vii. 

A  passionate  debate  ensued,  during  which  Mansfield  i)raised 
the  Boston  jjort  act  and  its  attendant  measures,  including  the 
regulating  act  for  Massachusetts,  as  worthy  to  be  gloried  in  for 
their  wisdom,  policy,  and  equity ;  but  he  denied  that  they 
were  in  any  degree  the  fruit  of  his  influence.  Now,  as  they 
were  founded  on  his  legal  opinions,  Shelbume  insinuated  that 
Mansfield's  disclaimer  was  in  substance  not  correct.  Mans- 
field retorted  by  charging  Shelbume  with  uttering  gross  false- 
hoods; and  Shelbume  in  a  rejoinder  gave  the  illustrious  jurist 
the  lie.  "' 

On  the  ninth  of  February  the  lord  chancellor,  the  speaker, 
and  a  majority  of  the  lords  and  commons  went  in  state  to  the 
palace,  and,  in  the  presence  of  the  representatives  of  the  great 
powers  of  Europe,  presented  to  George  III.  their  joint  ad- 
dress. The  king,  in  his  roj)ly,  pledged  himself  speedily  and 
effectually  to  enforce  "obedience  to  the  laws  and  the  author- 
ity of  the  supreme  legislature."  His  heart  was  hardened. 
Having  just  heard  of  the  seizure  of  ammunition  in  JS'ew  Hamp- 
shire, he  intended  that  his  language  should  "  open  the  eyes 
of  the  deluded  Americans."  "  H  it  does  not,"  said  he  to 
his  faltering  minister,  "  it  must  set  every  delicate  man  at  lib- 
erty to  avow  the  propriety  of  the  most  coercive  measures." 


/     <w' 


im. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


121 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

THE  SPIEIT  OF  NEW   ENGLAND. 

Febeuary-Maecii  1775. 

On  the  day  on  wliieli  tlie  king  received  tlie  address  of  par. 
hament  the  members  of  the  second  pro\ancial   congress  of 
Massachusetts,  about  two  hundred  and  fourteen  in  number, 
appointed  eleven  men  as  their  committee  of  safety,  and  charged 
them  to  resist  every  attempt  at  executing  the  acts  of  pariia- 
ment.     For  this  purpose  they  were  empowered  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  warhke  stores  of  tlie  province,  to  make  returns  of 
the  militia  and  minute-men,  and  to  muster  so  many  of  the 
militia  as  they  should  judge  necessary.     General  officer  were 
appointed  to  command  the  force  that  should  be  so  assembled. 
First  of  those  who  accepted  the  trust  was  Artemas  Ward,  a 
soldier  of  some  experience  in  the  French  war.    Next  him  as 
brigadier  stood  Seth  Pomeroy,  the  still  older  veteran,  who  had 
served  in  1745  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg. 
^     "Resistance  to  tjTanny,"  thus  the  congress  addressed  the 
mhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  "becomes  the  Christian 
and  social  duty  of  each  individual.     Fleets,  troops,  and  every 
implement  of  war  are  sent  into  the  province,  to  wrest  from 
you  that  freedom  which  it  is  your  duty,  even  at  the  risk  of 
your  lives,  to  hand  inviolate  to  posterity.     Continue  steadfast, 
and,  with  a  proper  sense  of  your  dependence  on  God,  nobly 
defend  those  rights  which  heaven  gave,  and  no  man  ought  to 
take  from  us." 

These  true  representatives  of  the  inhabitants  of  Massachu- 
setts were  resolved  never  to  swerve  from  duty.  They  were 
frugal  even  to  pai'simony,  making  the  scantiest  appropriations 


I-  ■  ( 


\m 


1 22         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  in. ;  cii.  vin. 

ever  tlioiiglit  of  hy  a  nation  tlireatened  witli  war;  yet  they 
held  their  property  and  tlioir  blood  of  less  account  than  lib- 
erty.    They  ^7cre  startled  at  the  liglitcst  nistling  of  inipendinrr 
danger ;  but  they  could  not  be  moved  from  their  purpose,  and 
no  more  trembled  than  the  granite  rock  which  seems  to  quiver 
with  the  flickering  sliadow  of  the  drifting  cloud.     "Life  and 
liberty  shall  go  together,"  Avas  their  language.     "  Our  existence 
as  a  free  people  absolutely  depeuds  on  our  acting  with  spirit 
and  vigoi-,"  said  Josei)h  Warren ;  and  he  wished"  England  to 
know  that  the  Americans  had  courage  enough  to  iigat  for  their 
freedom.     "The  people,"  said  Samuel  Adams,  "will  defend 
their  liberties  with  dignity.     One  regular  attempt  to  subdue 
this  or  any  other  colony,  whatever  may  be  the  first  issue  of  the 
attempt,  will  open  a  quarrel  which  will  never  be  closed  till 
what  some  of  them  affect  to  apprehend,  and  we  truly  depre- 
cate, shall  take  effect." 

The  secr.nd  provincial  congress  before  its  adjournment  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  draw  up  in  the  recess  rules  and  reonla- 
tions  for  the  constitutional  army.     They  declined  to  levy  tlixes 
m  form ;  but  they  recommended  the  inhabitants  to  pay  all 
their  province  tax  to  a  treasurer  of  their  appointment.     They 
re-elected  their  old  delegates  to  congress.     They  forbade  work 
or  supplies  for  the  English  troops,  saying,  "  we  may  be  driven 
to  the  hard  ncces3ity  of  taking  up  arms  in  our  own  defence." 
They  urged  one  of  their  committees  to  prepare  military  stores, 
and  directed  reviews  of  every  company  of  minute-men.   Aware 
of  the  design  of  the   ministry  to  secure  the  Canadians  and 
Indians,  they  authorized  communications  with  the  province 
of  Quebec  through  the  committee  of  correspondence  of  Bos- 
ton.    A  delegation  from  Connecticut  was  received,  aud  meas- 
ures were  concerted  for  corresponding  with  that  and  all  the 
other  colonies.     After  appointing  a  day  of  fasting,  enjoining 
the  colony  to  beware  of  a  surprise,  and  recommending  military 
discipline,  they  closed  a  session  of  sixteen  days. 

_  The  spies  of  Gage  found  the  people  everywhere  intent  on 
nuhtary  exercises,  or  listening  to  confident  speeches  from  their 
ofHccrs,  or  learning  from  the  clergy  to  esteem  themselves  as  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah.  "  Behold,"  said  one  of  the  ministers  who 
preached  at  a  very  full  review  of  the  militia,  "  God  himself  is 


1775. 


THE  SPIRIT  or    NEW  ENGLAND. 


123 


with  us  for  onr  captain,  and  liis  priests  witli  sounding  trumpets 
to  cry  alarm."  The  Enghsh  he  thus  rebulccd  :  "  O  children 
of  Israel,  tight  ye  not  against  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers; 
for  ye  shall  not  prosper." 

On  these  bustling  preparations  of  men  who  had  no  artil- 
lery, few  muskets  with  bayonets,  and  no  treasury,  the  loyalists 
looked  with  derision,  never  doubting  the  power  of  Great  Brit- 
ain to  crush  every  movement  of  insurrection.     Daniel  Leonard, 
of  Taunton,  speaking  for  them  all,  held  up  the  spectres  of 
^'high  treason,"  "actual  rebellion,"  and  " anarchy."    He  ran 
through  the  history  of  the  strife;  argued  that  it  was  reasonable 
for  America  to  share  in  the  national  burden  as  in  the  national 
benefit ;  that  there  was  no  oppressive  exercise  of  the  power  of 
parliament ;  that  the  tax  of  threepence  on  tea  was  no  tyrannv, 
since  a  duty  of  a  shilling,  imposed  as  a  regulation  of  trade, 
had  just  bean  taken  off ;  that  the  bounties  paid  in  England  on 
American  produce  exceeded  the  American  revenue  more  than 
fourfold ;  that  no  grievance  was  felt  or  seen ;  that,  in  the  uni- 
versal prosperity,  the  merchants  in  the  colonies  were  rich,  the 
yeomanry  affluent,  the  humblest  able  to  gain  an  estate ;  that 
the  population  doubled  in  twenty-five  years,  building  cities  in 
the  wilderness,  and  interspersing  schools  and  colleges  through 
the  continent ;  that  the  country  abounded  with  infallible  marks 
of  opulence  and  freedom ;  that  even  James  Otis  had  admitted 
the  authority  of  parliament  over  the  colonies,  and  had  proved 
the  necossity  and  duty  of  obedience  to  its  acts ;  that  resistance 
to  pariiament  by  force  would  bo  treason;  that  rebels  would 
deservedly  bo  cut  down  like  grass  before  the  Ecythe  of  the 
mower,  while  the  gibbet  and  the  scaffold  would  make  away 
with  those  whom  the  sword  should  spare  ;  that  Great  Britain 
was  resolved   to  maintain  the  power  of  pariiament,  and  was 
able  to  do  so;  that  the  colonics  south  of  Pennsylvania  had 
bnrely  men  enough  to  govern  their  numerono  slaves,  and  defend 
themselves  against  the  Indians ;  that  the  northern  colonies  had 
no  military  stores,  nor  money  to  procure  them,  nor  discipline, 
nor  subordination,  nor  generals  capable  of  opposing  officers 
bred  to  arms  ;  that  five  thousand  British  troops  would  prevail 
against  fifty  thousand  Americans  ;  that  the  British  navy  on  the 
first  day  of  war  would  be  master  of  their  trade,  fisheries,  navi- 


I.|« 


'  y  i 


!l||'t 

:M 

12t         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DKFEXGE. 


KP.  III.  ;  en.  VIII. 


m 


gation,  and  maritime  touTis ;  tliat  tl.  ,  Canadians  and  savaf^os 
would  proy  upon  the  back  8cttlcnu>iii3,  so  that  a  ro^ndar  army 
could  devastate  the  land  like  a  whirlwind ;  that  the  colonies 
never  would  unite,  ami  New  En-land,  perhaps  Massachu- 
Betts,  would  be  loft  to  fall  alone;  that  even  in  IMassachnsctts 
thousands  among  the  men  of  property,  and  others,  would  flock 
to  the  royal  standard,  while  the  province  would  be  drenched  in 
the  blood  of  rebels. 

Kindling  with  indignation  at  these  dastardly  menaces,  John 
Adams  employed  the  fniits  of  his  long  study  of  the  British 
law,  the  constitution,  and  of  natural  right,  to  vindicate  the 
true  sentiments  of  Kcw  England  in  this  wise  : 

"My  friends,  human  nature  itself  is  evermore  an  advocate 
for  liberty.  The  people  can  understand  and  feel  the  difference 
between  true  and  false,  right  and  wrong,  virtue  and  vice.  To 
the  sense  of  this  difference  the  friends  of  mankind  appeal. 

"  That  all  men  by  nature  are  equal ;  that  kings  have  but  a 
delegated  authority,  which  the  peoide  may  resume,  are  the 
revolution  principles  of  1(588;  are  the  principles  of  Aristotle 
and  Plato,  of  Livy  and  Cicero,  of  Sidney,  Harrington,  and 
Locke,  of  nature  and  eternal  reason. 

"If  the  pariiament  of  Great  Britain  had  all  the  natural 
foundations  of  authority,  wisdom,  goodness,  justice,  power, 
would  not  an  unlimited  subjection  of  three  millions  of  people 
to  that  parliament,  at  three  thousand  miles  distance,  be  real 
slavery  ?  But,  when  both  electors  and  elected  are  become  cor- 
rupt, you  would  be  the  most  abject  of  slaves  to  the  worst  of 
masters. 

"All  America  is  united  in  sentiment.  "WHion  a  masterly 
statesman,  to  whom  she  has  erected  a  statue  in  her  heart  for 
his  integrity,  fortitude,  and  perseverance  in  her  cause,  invented 
a  committee  of  correspondence  in  Boston,  did  not  every  colony, 
nay  every  county,  city,  hundred,  and  town,  upon  the  whole 
continent,  adopt  the  measure  as  if  it  had  been  a  revelation  from 
above  ?  Look  over  the  resolves  of  the  colonies  for  the  past 
year  ;  you  Avill  see  that  one  understanding  governs,  one  heart 
animates  the  whole.  The  mighty  questions  of  the  revolution 
of  1G88  were  determined  in  the  convention  of  pariiament  by 
small  majorities  of  two  or  three,  and  four  or  five  only;  tlio 


1778. 


Tlli:  SPIRIT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


125 


almost  unanimity  in  the  colonial  assemblies,  and  especially  in 
the  coiitinentiil  congress,  are  tlie  clearest  demonstration  of  the 
cordial  and  indissoluble  union  of  the  colonics. 

"If  Great  Britain  were  united,  she  could  not  subdue  a 
country  a  thousand  leagues  olf.  But  Great  Britain  is  not 
united  against  us.  Millions  in  England  and  Scotland  think  it 
unrighteous,  iuipolitic,  and  ruinous  to  make  war  wpon  lis ;  and 
a  minister,  though  he  may  have  a  marble  heart,  will  i)roceed 
with  a  desponding  spirit. 

"I  would  ask  by  what  law  the  parliament  has  authority 
over  America?  By  the  law  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
it  has  none ;  by  the  law  of  nature  and  nations  it  has  none ; 
by  the  connnon  law  of  England  it  has  none ;  by  statute  law 
it  has  none;  the  declaratory  act  of  17(50  was  made  without  our 
consent  by  a  parliament  which  had  no  authority  beyond  the 
four  seas. 

"  If  Great  Britain  lias  protected  the  colonies,  all  the  profits 
of  our  trade  centred  in  her  lap.  If  she  has  been  a  nursing 
mother  to  us,  we  have,  as  nursed  children  commonly  do,  been 
very  fond  of  her,  and  rewarded  her  all  along  tenfold  for  her 
care. 

""We  New  England  men  do  not  derive  our  laws  from  par- 
liament, nor  from  common  law,  but  from  the  law  of  nature 
and  the  compact  made  with  the  king  in  our  charters.  It  may 
as  well  be  pretended  that  the  people  of  Great  Britain  can  for- 
feit their  privilegos,  as  the  people  of  this  province.  If  the 
contract  of  state  is  broken,  the  people  and  king  of  England 
must  recur  to  nature.     It  is  the  same  in  this  province. 

"  The  two  characteristics  of  this  people,  religion  and  hu- 
manity, are  strongly  marked  in  all  their  proceedings.  We  are 
not  exciting  a  rebellion.  Resistance  by  arms  against  usurpa- 
tion and  lawless  violence  is  not  rebellion  by  the  law  of  God  or 
the  land.  Besistance  to  lawful  authority  makes  rebellion. 
Hampden,  Baissell,  Sidney,  Holt,  Somers,  Tillotson,  were  no 
rebels. 

"  This  people,  under  great  trials  and  dangers,  have  discov- 
ered great  abilities  and  virtues,  and  that  nothing  is  so  terrible 
to  them  as  the  loss  of  their  liberties.  They  act  for  America 
and  posterity.     If  there  is  no  possible  medium  between  abso- 


126         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  RELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  ,„. ;  r„.  v,„. 

Into  iiKl.'poiidonco  iiiul  8ul)jt>ction  to  tl.o  .'uitlioi-ity  of  parliu- 
inont,  all  North  Ainerica  are  convinced  of  tlioir  indopondcuco 
and  dctonnincd  to  defend  it  at  all  Iiazards."  ' 

On  the  tenth  of  February,  after  the  siH-aker  lia<l  reported 
to  tlie  house  of  connnons  the  answer  to  their  addresH,  Lord 
North  presented  a  message  from  the  kin-  asking  the  aug- 
mentation of  his  forces.  The  minister,  who  still  clung  to  the 
hope  of  reducing  Massachusetts  by  the  terrora  of  legislation, 
next  proposed  to  restrain  the  commerce  of  New  England  and 
exchule  its  lishermen  from  the  banks  of  Newfoundland.  The 
best  ship-builders  in  the  woi-ld  were  at  Boston,  and  their  vards 
had  been  closod;  the  New  England  lishermen  were  now  to  be 
restrained  from  a  toil  in  which  they  excelled  all  nations. 

"  God  and  nature,"  said  Johnston,  "have  given  that  fishery 
to  New  England  and  not  to  Old."     Dunning  defended  the 
right  of  the  Americans  to  iish  on  the  banks.     "  If  rebellion  is 
resistance  to  government,"  said  Sir  George  Saville,  "it  must 
sometimes  be  justiliable.     May  not  a  people,  taxed  without 
their  consent  and  their  petitions  against  such  taxation  rejected, 
their  charters  taken  away  without  a  hearing,  and  an  army  let 
loose  upon  them  without  a  possibility  of  obtaining  justice,  be 
said  to  be  in  justifiable  rebellion  ? "     ]3ut  the  ministerial  meas- 
ure, though  by  keeping  the  New  Englana  iishcrmen  at  home 
It   provided    recruits   for   an    insurgent    army,    was    carried 
tlirough    all   Its   stages   by  great    majorities.      Bishop   New- 
ton,  in   the    lords,   reasoned   "that  rebellion   is   the  sin   of 
witchcraft,  and  that  one  so  unnatural  as  that  of  New  En"-- 
land  could  be  ascribed  to  nothing  less  than  diabolical  infat- 
uation." 

The  minister  of  France  requested  the  most  precise  orders 
to  all  British  naval  officers  not  to  annoy  the  commerce  of  the 
French  colonies.  "Such  orders,"  answered  Rochford,  "have 
been  given ;  and  we  have  the  greatest  desire  to  live  with  you 
in  the  most  perfect  friendship."  A  letter  from  Lord  Stor- 
mont,  the  British  ambassador  at  Paris,  was  cited  in  the  house 
of  lords  to  prove  that  France  equally  wished  a  continuance  of 
peace.  "  \  ou  can  put  no  tnist  in  Gallic  faith,"  replied  Rich- 
mond, "  except  so  long  as  it  shall  be  their  interest  to  keep  their 
word."     To  this  Rochford,   the  secretary  of  state,  absented, 


1775. 


THE  HPIIUT  OF   NKW   ENGLAND. 


127 


provinnr,  however,  from  Raynar.s  History  of  the  Two  Iiulios, 
that  it  was  not  for  the  interest  of  Friiucu  that  the  Eiighsh  eoh)- 
nicvs  Bhoiild  throw  olf  the  yoke.  Tho  next  courier  took  to  tlio 
king  of  France  tho  re-iort  that  neither  tho  opposition  nor  the 
British  minister  put  faith  in  iiis  sincerity. 

Lord  North  would  gladly  have  escaped  from  his  cmban-ass- 
nients  hy  concession.     "  I  am  a  friend  to  liolding  out  the  olive- 
branch,"  wrote  tlio  king  to  his  pliant  minister,  "yet  I  believe 
that,  when  once  vigorous   measures  appear  to  bo   the  only 
means,  the  colonies  will  submit.     I  shall  never  look  to  the 
right  or  to  tho  left,  but  steadily  pursue  that  track  which  my 
conscience  dictates  to  be  the  right  one."     The  preparations  for 
war  were,  therefore,  to  proceed;  but  he  consented  that  tho 
commanders  of  the  naval  and  military  forces  might  bo  invested 
with  coinraissione  for  the  restoration  of  peace  according  to  a 
measure  to   bo  proposed  by  Lord  North.     From   Fi-anklin, 
whose  aid  in  the  scheme  was  earnestly  desired,  the  minister 
onr-e  more  sought  to  Icani  the  least  amount  of  concession  that 
could  be  accepted. 

Franklin  expressed  his  approbation  of  tho  proposed  com- 
mission, and  of  Lord  IIowo  as  ono  of  its  members ;  and,  to 
smooth  tho  way  to  conciliation,  ho  offered  tho  payment  of  an 
mdemnity  to  tho  Lidia  company,  provided  the  Massachusetts 
acts  should  be  repealed.     "  AVithout  tho  entire  repeal,"  said  he, 
"the  language  of  the  proposal  is,  try  on  your  fetters  first,  and 
then,  if  you  don't  like  them,  wo  will  consider."     On  the  eio-h- 
teenth  of  February,  Lord  IIowo  entreated  Franklhi  "to  Ac- 
company him,  and  co-operate  with  him  in  the  groat  work  of 
reconciliation ;"  and  he  coupled  his  request  with  a  promise  of 
ample  appointments   and   subsequent  rewards.     "Accepting 
favors,"  replied  tlio  American,  "  would  destroy  the  influence 
you  propose  to  use;  but  let  mo  see  your  propositions,  and,  if 
I  approve  of  them,  I  will  hold  myself  ready  to  accompany  you 
at  an  hour's  warning."    IHs  own  opinions,  which  ho  had  pur- 
posely reduced  to  writing  and  signed  with  his  own  hand,  were 
communicated  through  Lord  Howe  to  Lord  North,  with  this 
last  word :    "  They  that  can  give  up  essential  liberty  to  obtain 
a  httlo  temporary  safety  deserve  neither  liberty  nor  safety. 
The  Massachusetts  must  suffer  all  tho  hazards  and  mischiefs 


I  li 


di4:  n 


gtej*'^  -   -■- 


i 


128         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Er.  in. ;  en.  Tin. 


of 


war,  ratlior  tliaii 


admit  tlic  alteration  of  their  charter  and 
laws  hy  parliament." 

The  minister  dreadinp;  the  conflict  ^vitli  America,  yet  dread- 
inpj  still  moro  a  conllict  with  hin  collea.'^nie.s,  Franklin  was  in- 
formed on  the  twentieth  that  his  principles  and  those  of  ])arlia- 
ment  were  as  yet  too  wide  from  each  other  for  discussion ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Lord  North,  armed  with  the  king's  consent 
in  writing,  astounded  the  house  of  connnons  by  proposinf«-  a 
plan  of  eonciliati(m  formed  on  the  principle  that  parliament, 
if  the  colonics  would  tax  themselves  to  its  satisfaction,  would 
impose  on  them  no  duties  except  for  the  regulation  of  com- 
merce.    A  storm  of  opposition  ensued,   which   Lord   North 
could  not  quell ;  and  for  two  hours  ho  seemed  in  a  nn"nority. 
"The  plan  should  have  been  signed  by  John  ILancock  and 
Otis,"  said  Rigby.     Welboro  Ellis,   aiul   others,   i)articularly 
young   Acland,    declared   against   him   loudly  and    roughly, 
"  Whether  any  colony  will  come  in  on  these  terms  I  know 
not,"  said  Lord  North;  "but  it  is  just  and  humane  to  give 
them  the  option.     If  one  consents,  a  link  of  the  great  chain  is 
broken.     If  not,  it  will  convince  men  of  justice  and  humanity 
at  home  that  in  America  they  mean  to  throw  off  all  depend- 
ence."    Jenkinson  reminded  the  house  that  Lord  North  stood 
on  ground  chosen  by  Grenville ;  but  the  Bedford  party  none 
the  less  threatened  to  vote  against  the  minister,  till  Sir  Gilbert 
Elliot,  the  well-known  friend  of  the  king,  came  to  liis  rescue 
and  secured  for  the  motion  a  largo  majority.     To  recover  his 
lost  ground  with  the  extreme  suj^porters  of  authoritv.  North 
joined  with  Suffolk  and  Rochford  in  publishing  "  a  pa])er  de- 
claring his  intention  to  make  no  concessions." 

^  "  If  fifty  thousand  men  and  twenty  millions  of  moi'cv," 
said  David  Hume,  "  were  intmsted  to  such  a  lukewarm  cow- 
ard as  Gage,  they  never  could  produce  any  effect."  The  army 
in  Boston  was  to  bo  raised  to  ten  thousand  men,  and  the  gen- 
eral to  be  superseded  on  account  of  his  incapacity  to  direct  such 
a  force.  Amherst  declined  the  service,  unless  the  anny  should 
be  raired  to  twenty  thousand  men ;  the  appointment  of  Will- 
iam IIowo  was  therefore  made  public.  He  possessed  no  one 
quality  of  a  groat  general,  and  was  selected  for  his  name 
and  his  relationship  to  the  king.     On  receiving  the  offer  of 


1773. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND, 


129 


tho  command,  ho  asked:  "Is  it  a  propoHition  or  an  order 
from  the  kiw^r'  and  when  told  an  order,  lio  replied  it  was 
his  duty  to  ohej  it.  "  You  should  have  refused  to  go  against 
this  people,"  eried  the  voters  of  Nottingham,  with  whom  ho 
broke  faith.  "Your  brother  died  there  in  the  eaiis"  (  f  free- 
dom ;  they  have  shown  their  gratitude  to  your  name  and  fam- 
ily by  erecting  a  monument  to  him."  "  Wo  cannot  wish  suc- 
cess to  the  undertaking,"  said  many  more.  Lord  Ifowe,  tho 
adnnral,  vras  aimonneed  as  commander  of  tho  naval  forces  and 
pacificator;  for  it  was  pretended  tJjat  the  olive-branch  and  ''o 
b;word  were  to  bo  sent  together. 

Of  the  two  major-generala  who  attended  Howe,  the  fii  i 
r,  rank  was  Henry  Clinton,  son  of  a  former  governor  in  New 
^  jrk,  related  to  the  families  of  .Newcastle  and  Bedford,  and 
^omiected  by  party  with  the  ministry.     The  other  was  John 
Burgoyne,  who  in  the  last  war  served  in  Portugal  with  spirit, 
and  was  brave  even  to  rashness.     He  had  a  talent  for  vivid 
narrative,  and  wrote  comedies  that  pler.sed  in  their  day.     In 
parliament  he  was  taken  for  an  opponent  of  the  ministry ;  but 
he  liad  spoken  and  voted  against  the  repeal  of  the  tax  on  tea, 
and  had  pronounced  the  Americans  "children  spoiled  by  too 
much  indulgence;"  so  that,  without  flagrant  inconsistency,  he 
could  promise  Lord  North  "to  be  his  steady,  zealous,  and 
active  supporter."     « I  am  confident,"  said  he,  in  tho  house  of 
commons,  "  there  is  not  an  olHcer  or  soldier  in  the  king's  sct- 
vice  who  does  not  think  the  parliamentary  right  of  Great  Brit- 
ain a  cause  to  fight  for,  to  bleed  and  die  for." 

^  In  reply  to  Burgoyne,  Henry  Temple  Lnttrcll,  whom  curi- 
osity once  led  to  travel  many  hundreds  of  miles  along  the 
floui-ishing  and  hospitable  provinces  of  the  continent,  bore  tes- 
timony to  their  temperance,  urbanity,  and  spirit,  and  predicted 
tj<>t.  if  set  to  the  proof,  they  would  evince  the  magnanimity 
of  republican  liomo. 

^  AYhile  providing  for  a  re-enforcement  to  its  anny,  England 
enjoined  the  strictest  watchfulness  on  its  consuls  and  agents  in 
every  part  of  Europe  to  intercept  all  munitions  of  war  des- 
tined for  the  colonies.  The  British  envoy  in  Holland,  with 
dictatorial  menaces,  recpiired  the  states  general  of  Holland  to 
forbid  their  subjects  from  so  much  as  transporting  military 

TOL.    IV.— 9  r  »  J 


m 


:..m 


130         AMKIIICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ev.  in. ;  err.  vni. 


'   Sfi. 


,V    ■! 


stores  to  Iho  AW-st  [iidics  hoyoiid  tlio  absolute  Wiuit^  of  tlieir 
own  colonus.  Of  llio  French  goveninicnt,  ])i-evcntivo  lueas- 
ures  wore  ri-cincsted  in  tlu;  most  courteons  words. 

An  pjiM-Hsli  vossol   bore   to   tlio  colonics   news   of  Lord 
Nortli  s  i)n.i)(.:-;il,  in  the  conlidcnt  belief  that  tliey  would  be 
divided  by  tlu;  mere  hint  of  giving-  up  the  point  of  taxation. 
"The    plan,"  Kiid   ('hatham,  ''will   bo   spurned,  and   every- 
thing but  jnstice  and  reason  prove  vain  to  men  like  the  Ameri- 
cans."    "  It  is  impossible,"  said  Fox,  "to  use  the  same  resolu- 
tion to  make  the  Americans  believe  the  right  of  taxing  will  be 
given  11]),  and  the  mother  country  that  it  will  be  maintained." 
Franklin  sent  advice  to  Massachusetts  by  lui  means  to  begin 
war  without  the  ai)proval  of  the  continental  congress,  unless 
on  a  sudden  emergency;  "but  New  England  alone,"  said  lie, 
"  can  hold  out  for  ages  against  this  country,  and,  if  they  are 
firm  and  united,  in  seven  years  will  win  the  day."     "  J^y  wis- 
dom and  courage  the  ct)lonies  will  tind  frienc'.s  everywhere;" 
thus  he  wrote  to  James  IJowdoiu  of  Doston,  as  if  predicting  a 
French  alliance.     "  The  eyes  of  all  Christendom  an;  now  u^fon 
us,  and  our  honor  as  a  peo])le  is  become  a  matter  of  the  utmost 
conse(pience.     If  we  tamely  give  uj)  our  rights  in  this  contest, 
a  century  to  come  will  not  restore  us  in  the  oi)inion  of  the 
world;  we  shall  be  stamped  with  the  character  of  dastards,  pol- 
troons, and  fools;  and  be  despised  and  trampled  ujion,  not  by 
this  haughty,  insolent  nation  oidy,  but  by  all  mankind.     Pres- 
ent inconveniences  are  therefore  to  be  borne  with  fortitude, 
and  better  times  expej'ted." 

The  fi-iends  of  the  British  government  in  Kew  York  were 
found  only  on  the  surface.  The  Dutch  Americans  formed  the 
basis  of  the  jxtpulation,  and  were  animated  by  the  example  of 
their  fathers,  who  had  proved  to  the  world  that  a  small  i)eo])lo 
under  great  discouragements  can  found  a  i\>public.  By  tem- 
perament moderate  but  indexible,  little  noticed  by  the  goveru- 
nient,  thi-y  kept  themselves  noiselessly  in  reserve.  The  set- 
tlors in  Xew  York  from  New  England  and  the  mechanics  of 
the  city  were  ahnost  to  a  man  enthusiasts  for  resistance.  The 
landed  aristocracy  was  divided;  but  the  Dutch  and  the  Scotch 
Presbyterians,  especially  Schuyler  of  Albany  and  the  aged 
Livingston  of  Bhinebeck,  never  hesitated  to  risk  their  estates 


^r 


1775. 


TIIK  SPIRIT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


131 


in  tlio  cause  of  inlieritcd  frecdou,.  In  no  colony  did  English 
d()nnmon  find  less  of  the  sympathy  of  the  people  than  in  ?few 
I  orlc. 

In  Vir-inia,  the  Blue  Ridge  answered  British  menaces  with 
dehance.     «  Wo  cannot  part  with  liberty  but  ^vith  our  lives  " 
said  the  inhabitants  of   Botetourt.     "Our  duty  to  (Jod  our 
country,  ourselves,  and  our  posterity,  all  forbid  it.     AVe  stand 
prepared  for  every  contingency."     The  dwellers  on  the  waters 
ot  the  Shenandoah,  meeting  at  Staunton,  commended  the  Vir- 
ginia delegates  to  the  applause  of  succeeding  ages,  their  exam- 
ple to  the  hearts  of  every  Virginian  and  every  American, 
lor  my  part,"  said  Adam  Stephen,  "before  I  would  submit 
my    lie,  liberty,  and  property  to  the  arbitrary  dis])osal  of  a 
venal  aristocracy,  I  would  sit  myself  down  with  a  few  friends 
upon  some  rich  and  healthy  spot,  six  hundred  miles  to  the 
westward,  and  there  form  a  settlement  which  in  a  short  time 
would  command  respect." 

The  valleys  of  Iventucky  laughed  as  they  heard  the  distant 
tread  of  dustering  troops  of  adventurers,  who,  under  a  grant 
from  the  Cherokces,  prepared  to  take  possession  of  the  mead- 
ows and  undulating  table-land  that  nature  had  clothed  with  its 
richest  graasos.     Their  views  extended  to  planting  companies 
01    arniers,  and  erecting  iron-works,  a  salt  manufactory,  grist- 
mi  Is,  and  saw-mills ;  the  culture  of  the  fertile  region  was  to  be 
fostered  by  premiums  for  the  heaviest  crop  of  corn,  and  for 
the  emigrant  who  should  d.-ive  out  the  greatest  number  of 
sheep.     1  he  men  who  are  now  to  occupy  "  that  most  desirable 
terntoiy     will  carry  American  independence  to  the  Wabasli, 
the  IJetroit,  and  the  Mississippi. 

At  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  tlie  association  was  punctu- 
ally enforced.  A  ship-load  of  near  three  hundred  slaves  was 
Bent  out  of  the  colony  by  the  consignee  ;  even  household  furni- 
ture and  horses,  though  they  had  been  in  use  in  England,  could 
not  be  landed ;  the  cargo  of  one  vessel  was  thrown  into  Ilorr 
island  creek.  » 

_  The  winter  at  Boston  was  the  mildest  ever  known  ;  and  in 
this     the  gracious  interposition  of  heaven  was  recognised  " 
All  the  towns  in  Massachusetts,  nearly  all  in  JS^ew  En^^land 
and  some  m  every  colony,  minisiered  to  the  wants  of  Bostoa 


in, 


:*      il 


I    ^'      I! 


I 


i|l 


f 


;  I 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  hi. 


OH.  VIII. 


Relief  came  even  from  England.  "  Call  me  an  cntlinsiast," 
said  Samuel  Adams;  "this  union  among  the  colonies  and 
warmth  of  affection  can  be  attributed  to  nothing  less  than  the 
agency  of  the  Supreme  Being.  If  we  believe  that  he  super- 
intends and  directs  the  affairs  of  empires,  we  have  reason  to 
exi)ect  tlio  restoration  and  estabhshment  of  the  public  liber- 
ties." 

On  Sunday,  the  twenty-sixth  of  February,  two  or  three 
hundred  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  Leslie,  sailed  from 
Castle  William,  landed  clandestinely  at  Marblchead,  and  hur- 
ried to  Salem  in  quest  of  military  stores.  Not  iinding  them 
there,  the  officer  marched  toward  Danvei's ;  but  at  the  river  he 
found  the  bridge  drawn  up,  and  was  kept  waiting  for  an  hour 
and  a  half,  while  the  stores,  insignificant  in  amount,  were  re- 
moved to  a  place  of  safety.  Then,  having  pledged  his  honor 
not  to  advance  more  than  thirty  yards  on  the  other  side,  he 
was  allowed  to  march  his  troops  across  the  bridge.  The  alarm 
spread  through  the  neighborhood,  while  Leslie  hastily  retraced 
liis  steps. 

At  this  time  the  British  ministry  received  news  of  the 
vote  in  the  New  York  assembly,  refusing  to  consider  the  reso- 
lutions of  congress.  The  conffdence  of  tlie  king  reached  its 
climax ;  and  he  spared  no  pains  to  win  the  colony.  In  a  let- 
ter from  the  secretary  of  state,  New  York  ^vas  praised  for  its 
attempts  toward  a  reconciliation  with  the  mother  country ;  in 
a  private  letter,  Dartmouth  enjoined  upon  Colden  to  exert  his 
address  to  facilitate  the  acceptance  of  Lord  North's  conciliatory 
resolutions.  Like  directions  svere  sent  to  the  governors  of 
every  colony  except  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island. 

How  complete  was  the  general  contidcncc  that  the  great 
majorities  in  parliament  would  overawe  the  colonies  appeared 
on  the  sixth  of  March,  when  the  bill  depriving  Nevv^  Eng- 
land of  her  fisheries  was  to  be  engrossed.  Even  Lord  Howe 
spoke  for  u  as  the  means  of  bringing  the  disobedient  prov- 
inces to  a  sense  of  their  duty,  without  involving  a  civil  war. 
Fox  replied :  ''  As  by  this  act  all  means  of  acquiring  a  live- 
lihood, or  of  receiving  provisions,  is  cut  off,  no  alternative 
is  left  but  star\'ing  or  rebellion.  If  the  act  should  not  produce 
universal  acquiescence,  I  defy  anybody  to  defend  the  policy 


1775. 


THE   SPIRIT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 


133 


of  it.  Yet  America  will  not  submit.  Kew  York  only  differs 
in  the  modes."  ''  The  act,"  said  Tundas,  the  solicitor-general 
of  Scotland,  "is  just,  because  provoked  by  the  must  criminal 
disobedience;  is  merciful,  because  that  disobedience  would 
have  justiiled  the  severest  military  execution.  When  it  is  said 
no  alternative  is  left  to  them  but  to  starve  or  rebel,  this  is  not 
the  fact ;  for  there  is  another  way,  to  submit."  The  kino-,  on 
receiving  an  account  of  "  the  languor  of  opposition"  durin^^ 
the  debate,  wnvte  to  Lord  Korth :  "  I  am  convinced  the  line 
adopted  in  American  affairs  will  be  crowned  w^ith  success  " 

These  words  fell  from  George  III.  on  the  day  on  which 
Boston  connnemorated  the  "massacre"  of  its  citizens,  with 
Joseph  Warren  for  its  orator.     Plis  subject  was  the  baleful 
effects  of  standing  annies  in  time  of  peace ;  and  it  was  to  be 
delivered  to  the  town  in  a  town-meeting,  contrary  to  au  act  of 
parliament  which  Gage  was  sent  to  Boston  to  enforce.     In  the 
crowd  which  thronged  to  the  Old  South  meeting-house  ap- 
peared about  forty  British  officers  of  the  amy  and  navy  ;  these 
Samuel  Adams,  the  moderator,  received  with  studied  courtesy, 
placing  them  all  near  the  orator,  some  of  them  on  the  platform' 
above  the  pr.lpit  stairs.     Conspicuously  seated,  they  listened 
to  a  vivid  picture  of  the  night  of  the  massacre,  after  which 
Wan-en  proceeded : 

^      "  Our  streets  are  again  filled  with  armed  men,  our  harbor 
IS  crowded  with  ships-of-war ;  but  these  cannot  intimidate  us  • 
our  liberty  must  be   preserved;    it  is  far  dearer  than  life' 
Should  America  be  brought  into  vassalage,  Britain  nmst  lose 
lior  freedom;  her  liberty,  as  well  as  ours,  will  eventually  bo 
preserved  l)y  tlio  virtue  of  America.     The  attempt  of  parlia- 
ment to  raise  a  revenue  from  America  and  our  denial  of  their 
right^  to  do  it  have  excited  an  almost  universal  iiupiiry  into 
the  rights  of  British  subjects  and  of  mankind.     The  mutila- 
tion of  our  charter  has  made  every  otlier  colony  jealous  for 
Its  own.     Even  the  sending  troops  to  put  these  acts  in  execu- 
tion is  not  witliout  advantages  to  us;  the  exactness  and  beautv 
of  their  discipline  inspire  our  youth  ^dth  ardor  in  the  pursuit 
of  military  knowled'i-e. 

"Our  country  is  in  danger;   our  enemies  are   numerous 
and  powerful;  but  we  have  many  fiiends;  and,  determining 


I 

! 


I  •  i 


I  > 


It' 


I'M  AMHIUCA  ARMS  FOli  SELF-DKFKNCK.      uv.  iii. ;  cn.  viii. 


to  1(0  five,  liciivcii  jind  cnrtli  will  iiid  tlio  rcsolnfion.  You  iirc 
to  deride  tin  jiiportaiit  (|U('Htioii,  on  which  msLs  the  liaiypincsH 
and  lilu'i-fy  of  irnllioiis  yi-t  iinhorii.  Act  worthy  of  yoiirsclvcs. 
"  My  fcIlow-citizc'iiH,  1  know  yon  want  not  zeal  or  forti- 
tude. Von  will  niiiintiiin  your  ri^dits  or  jK-riKh  in  the  goncr- 
ouH  Htniii:ii,lo.  Von  will  Jicver  dcclino  tho  cond)iit  whoii  free- 
dom is  the  in-'v/A).     An   independence  of  (Jrciit   IJrifnin  is  not 


our  iuiii. 


hnt  if  pacilic  niea.snre.s  are  iiieflectnal,  and  it  iii)])eiU's 
that  the  only  way  to  wifety  k  thron-j;h  iieldrt  of  blood,  I  know 
you  will  undauntedly  j)reHS  forward,  until  tyranny  jh  trodden 
under  foot." 

At  the  uu>tion    for  "appointinjij  an  orator  for  the  ensniujjj 
year  to  coninieniorate  the  horrid  massacre,"  the  oilieers  of  the 


uss. 


Tl 


l(!     111- 


unny  and  navy  who  heard  tho  oration  began  to  1 

Bult  cxaKperated  tho  assembly  ;  but  Adams,  with  im])erturbablo 

calmness,  restored  order,  and  the  vote  was  tal 


Ken. 


on 


leers  and   soldiers  of  the   maddened  army   longed  for 
■ovenge.     An  honest  eoiintryman  from  IJillerica,  iiKjiiiring  for 
a  iirehx'k,  was  olVered  an  old  one  by  a-  private;  but,  as  soon  as 


liavmj;  vio 


late.  I 


an  ae 


he  had  bought  it,  lie  was  seiziMl  for 

j)ar]iamc]it  against  trading  with  soldiers,  and  coniined  d 

the  night  in  the  guard-room.     The  next  day  1 


t  of 


urinir 


ay  ho  was  tai-red  and 
feathered,  labelled  on  the  back  "Anieriean  liberty,  or  a  sjieei- 
men  of  democracy,"  and  carted  through  the  i)riiici|)al  streets 
of  the  town,  accompanied  by  a  guard  of  tv.enty  men  with 
fixed  bayonets;  by  a  mob  of  oilieers,  among  whom  was  J.ieu- 
toiumt-(\)lonelIS''esbit;  and  by  all  the  drums  and  lifes  of  tho 
forty-seventh,  playing  Vankee  Doodle. 

"See  what  indignities  we  sulfer  ratlicr  than  ]irccLpitate  a 
crisis,"  wrote  Samuel  Adams  to  Virginia.  The  soldiers  seemed 
encouraged  to  jirovoke  the  ])eople,  that  they  might  give  some 
color  for  beginning  hostilities. 


1775.  THE  KING  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCESS. 


135 


CHAPTER  IX. 

the  kino  awaits  nkvvs  of  success. 

Makcii-May  1775. 

DuEixa  tills  ;in,^ry  strife  l)etwcen  the  citizens  and  soldiers 
at  Boston,  Lord  Howe  at  London  l)roko  ofF  ncirotiations  witli 
Franklin,  and  the  ministry  nsed  the  i)en  of  Samuel  Jolmson  to 
inflame  the  public  mind.     Johnson  was  a  poor  man's  son,  and 
had  tasted  the  bitter  cup  of  extreme  indigence.     From  his 
father  he  inherited  "  the  vile  melancholy  that  made  him  mad 
all  his  life,  at  least  not  sober."     For  years  he  had  gained  a  pre- 
carious su])port  as  an  author.     He  had  escaped  a  ])rison  for  a 
trifle  he  owed  by  begging  an  ahns  of  liichardson,  and  had 
known  what  it  is  from  sheer  want  to  go  without  a  dinner, 
through  all  his  su(rering3  ])reserving  a  rugged  independence.' 
The  name  of  the  retired  and  unconrtly  scholar  was  venerable 
wherever  the  English  was  spoken,  by  his  full  display  of  that 
language  in  a  dictionary,  written  amid  inconvenience  and  dis- 
traction, in  sickness,  sorrow,  and  gh)omy  solitude,  with  little 
assistance  of  the  learned  and  no  patronage  of  the  great.    When 
better  days  came,  he  loved  and  cared  for  the  poor  as  few  else 
love  them.    It  were  to  have  been  wished  that  a  man  who  com- 
plained of  his  life  as  "radically  wretched,"  and  who  was  so 
tenderly  sensitive  to  the  wretchedness  of  others,  should  have 
been  able  to  feel  for  the  wrongs  of  an  injured  people ;  but  he 
consented  to  be  employed  by  the  ministry  to  defend  the  taxa- 
tion of  America  by  parliament ;  and  the  task  was  congenial  to 
his  hate  of  the  Puritans  and  his  life-long  political  creed. 

The  Bostonians  had  declared  to  the  general  congress  their 
willinr ..... 


1] 


:ness  to  resign  their  opulent  town,  and  wander  into  tl 


le 


136         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXOE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  IX. 


country  us  exiles.     "  Alas !  "  retorted  Johnson,  "  the  heroes  of 
Boston  will  only  leave  good  houses  to  wiser  men."     To  the 
complaints  of  their  Iial)ility  to  be  carried  out  of  their  country 
for  trial  he   answered :    '•  We  advise  them    not  to   offend." 
AHien  it  was  urged  that  they  were  condemned  unheard,  he 
asserted.-  "There  is  no  need  of  atrial;  no  man  desires  to  hear 
that  which  he  has  already  seen."     Franklin  had  remained  in 
Great  Uritain  for  no  reason  but  to  promote  conciliation;  with 
a  ponderons  effort  at  mirth,  Johnson  pointed  at  him  as  the 
"  niaster  of  mischief."     Did  the  Amerieans  claim  a  right  of 
resistance, "  Andacions  defiance  !  "  cried  Johnson  ;  "  acrimonious 
malignity  !     The  indignation  of  the  English  is  like  that  of  the 
Scythians,  wlio,  retui-ning  from  war,  found  themselves  excluded 
from  their  own  houses  by  tlieir  slaves."     Virginia  and   the 
Carolinas  had  shown  impatience  of  oppression.     "  ilow  is  it," 
asked  Johnson,  "that  we  hear  the  loudest  yelps  for  liberty 
among  the  drivers  of  negroes  ?     The  slaves  should  be  set  free  ; 
they  may  be  more  grateful  and  honest  than  their  masters." 
Lord  xXorth  inclined  to  mercy :  "Nothing,"  said  the  moralist, 
"can  be  more  noxious  to  society  than  clemency  which  exacts 
no  forfeiture;"  and  he  proposed  to  arm  the  savage  Indians, 
turn  out  the  Ei-itish  soldiers  on  free  (piarters  among  the  Ameri- 
cans, remodel  all  their  charters,  and  take  away  their  political 
privileges.     Dickinson,  of  Pennsylvania,  had  insisted  that  the 
Americans  com[)]:<ined  only  of  innovations.     "  We  do  not  put 
a  calf  int()  the  plougli,"  wrote  Johnson  ;  "  we  wait  till  he  is  an 
ox."     This,  however,  the  ministry  bade  him  erase,  not  for  its 
ribaldry,  but  from  unwillingness  to  concede  that  the  calf  had 
been   spared ;   and   Johnson  obeyed,  comjiaring  himself  to  a 
>  mechanic  for  whom  "  the  employer  is  to  decide."     He  mocked 
at  the  rule  of  progression,  which  showed  that  America  must 
one  day  exceed  luirope  in  populati(m.     "  Then,"  said  he  in 
derision,  "  in  a  century  and  a  quarter  let  the  princes  of  the 
earth  tremble  in  their  palaces." 

The  i)ure-minded  man,  who  in  a  sensual  age  was  the  quick- 
ener  of  religious  fervor,  the  preacher  to  the  poor,  John  Wesley, 
came  for^^•ard  to  defend  the  system  of  the  court  with  the  usual 
argmnents.  lie  looked  so  steadily  toward  the  world  beyond 
the  skies  that  he  could  not  brook  the  interruption  of  devout 


1  ^ 


1  :i 


1775.  THE  KLVG  AWAITS  NEWS   OF  SUCCESS.  137 

gratitn<lG  by  bloody  contests  in  this  stage  of  beiu'.-.     The  nii> 
turc  between  the  Englisli  and  the  Americans  was  gromlr 
wider  every  day,  and  to  hint  tlie  total  defection  of  America 
was  the  evident  prelude  of  a  conspin.,cy  against  monarchy,  of 
which   the  bare  thought  made  him   shudder.     "Xo  govern- 
ments under  heaven,"  said  he,  ''are  so  despotic  as  the  repubU- 
can ;  no  subjects  are  governed  in  so  arbitrary  a  manner  as  those 
of  a  commonwealth.     The  people  never  but  once  in  all  history 
gave  tlie  sovereign  power,  and  that  was  to  Masaniello  of  Na- 
ples.    Our  sins  will  never  be  removed  till  we  fear  God  and 
honor  the  king."    Wesley's  mental  constitution  was  not  robust 
enough  to  gaze  on  the  future  with  unblenched  calm.     He  could 
not  foresee  that  the  constellation  of  republics,  so  soon  to  rise  in 
the  Avilds  of  America,  would  welcome  the  members  of  the 
society  which  he  was  to  found  as  the  pioneers  of  religion ;  that 
the  breath  of  liberty  would  waft  their  messages  to  the  niasses 
of  the  people ;  would  encourage  them  to  collect  the  white  and 
tlie^  negro,  slave  and  master,  in  the  greenwood,  for  counsel  on 
divine  love  and  the  full  assurance  of  grace  ;  and  would  carry 
their  consolation  and  songs  and  prayers  to  the  farthest  cabins 
m  the  wilderness.     To  the  gladdest  of  glad  tidings  for  the 
political  regeneration  of  the  world  Wesley  listened  with  trem- 
bling, as  to  the  fearful  bursting  of  the  floodgates  of  revolution. 
In  the  house  of  lords,  Camden,  on  the  sixteenth  of  March,' 
took  the  occasion  of  the  motion  to  commit  the  bill  deprivin^i 
K'ew  England  of  the  fisheries  to  reply  not  to  ministers  only*^ 
but  to  their  pensioned  apologist,  in  a  speech  which  was  admired 
in  England  and  gained  applause  of  A'ergennes.     He  justified 
the  union  of  the  Americans,  and  refuted  the  suggestion  that 
iS^ow  York  could  be  detached  from  it.    By  the  extent  of  Amer- 
ica, the  numbers  of  its  people,  their  solid,  iirm,  and  indissoluble 
agreement  011  the  great  basis  of  liberty  and  justice,  and  the 
want  of  men  and  money  on  the  part  of  England,  he  proved 
that  England  must  fail  in  her  attempt  at  coercion,  that  the  ulti- 
mate  inde])endence  of  America  was  inevitable.    "  Suppose  the 
colonics  do  abound  in  men,"  replied  Sandwich  ;  "  they  are  raw, 
undisciplined,  and  cowardly.     I  wish,  insteatl  of  forty  or  fifty 
thousand  of  these  brave  fellows,  they  would  produce  in  the 
field  at  least  two  hundred  thousand;  the  more  the  better;  the 


I'l 


;  I ' 


., 


■         ,1    ■' 

1 

f  fl   it    f  1' 

i 

'     1   ! 

'  i 

1 

138 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.       kp.  iii. ;  en.  ix. 


easier  would  be  tlie  conquest.  At  the  sie<]je  of  Louisburg,  Sir 
Peter  Warren  found  wliut  ep^regious  cowards  they  were.  Be- 
lieve me,  my  lords,  the  very  somid  of  a  cannon  would  send  them 
off  as  fast  as  their  feet  could  carry  them."  lie  then  abused  the 
Americans  for  not  paying  their  debts,  and  ascribed  their  asso- 
ciations  to  a  desire  to  defrand  their  creditors.  The  restraint 
on  trade  and  the  fislieries  was  extended  by  a  separate  bill  to 
the  middle  states  except  New  York,  and  to  South  Carolina, 
with  constant  assurances  that  the  Americans  would  not  fight. 
When  on  the  twenty-Hrst  the  debate  was  renewed  and  the  bill 
passed,  both  Kockingham  and  Slielburne,  the  old  whig  and  the 
new,  inserted  in  their  protest  against  the  act  that  "  the  people 
of  New  England  are  especially  entitled  to  the  fisheries." 

Franklin,  as  he  heard  the  invective  of  Sandwich,  tunied  on 
his  heel ;  no  part  was  loft  him  but  to  go  home.  The  French 
minister,  who  revered  his  supreme  a])ility,  sought  with  him 
one  last  interview.  "  I  spoke  to  him,"  wrote  Garnier  to  Ver- 
genncs,  "of  the  part  which  onr  president  Jeamiin  had  taken 
in  establishing  the  independence  and  forming  the  government 
of  the  United  Provinces ; "  and  the  reminiscence  cheered  him 
as  a  prediction.  "  But  then,"  snbjoine(i  Garnier,  "  they  have 
neither  a  marine,  nor  allies,  nor  a  prince  of  Orange." 

For  some  hours  of  tV    nineteenth,  his  laot  day  in  London, 
Franldin  was  engaged  with  Priestley  in  looking  over  Americaii 
newspapers,  and  directing  him  what  to  extract  from  them  for 
the  English  ones ;  in  reading  them  he  was  frerpiently  not  able 
to  proceed  for  the  tears  which  were  literally  running  down 
his  cheeks.      A  large  part  of  the  same  day  he  spent   with 
Edmund  Burke.     lie  called  np  the  happy  years  of  America 
imder  the  protection  of  England,  saying :  "  The  British  em- 
pire is  the  only  instance  of  a  great  empire  in  which  the  most 
distant  members  have  been  as  well  governed  as  the  metropolis ; 
but  then  tlie  Americans  are  going  to  lose  the  means  which  se- 
cured to  them  this  rai-e  and  precious  advantage.     The  cpestion 
with  them  is,  not  whether  they  are  to  remain  as  they  were  be- 
fore the  troubles,  for  better  they  could  not  hope  to  be ;  but 
whether  they  are  to  give  up  so  happy  a  situation  without  a 
struggle.     I  lament  the  separation  between  Great  I>ritain  and 
her  colonics ;  but  it  is  inevitable." 


f    \. 


.1 


1775.  TnE  KING  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCESS. 


139 


Sir 


So  parted  tlie  great  champion  of  the  British  aristocracy  and 
tlio  man  of  tlie  American  i)e()i)lo.  IJurko  revered  Franklin 
to  tlie  last,  foretold  the  steady  brightening  of  his  fame,  and 
drew  from  his  integrity  the  hope  of  peace. 

The  next  morning  Franklin  posted  to  Portsmouth ;  and, 
before  his  departure  from  London  Avas  known,  he  had  em- 
barked for  riiiladeli)hia.  "Had  I  been  the  master,"  said 
Hutchinson,  "  his  embarkation  would  have  been  prevented." 
"  With  his  superiority,"  said  Gamier,  "  and  with  the  confidence 
of  the  Americans,  he  will  cut  out  work  enough  for  the  minis- 
ters who  have  persecuted  him."  Vergennes  felt  assured  he 
would  spread  a  general  conviction  that  the  British  ministry 
had  irrevocably  chosen  its  part,  and  had  left  America  no  choice 
but  independtnoo. 

With  personal  friends,  witli  merchants,  with  manufactu- 
rers, with  the  liberal  statesmen  of  ]']ugland,  with  supporters  of 
the  ministry,  Franklin  had  labored  on  all  occasions  earnestly, 
disinterestedly,  and  long,  to  effect  reconciliation.  Its  last 
gleam  vanislied  on  his  disappearance.  The  administration  at- 
tributed to  him  an  inflexible  and  subtle  hostility  to  England. 
But  nothing  deceives  like  jealousy ;  he  perseveringly  endeav- 
ored to  open  the  eyes  of  the  king  and  his  servants.  At  the 
bar  of  the  house  of  connnons  he  foretold  that  persistence  in 
taxation  would  compel  independence ;  it  was  for  the  use  of  the 
government  that  once  through  Strahan  and  then  through  Lord 
Howe  he  explained  the  American  question  with  frankness  and 
precision.  Tlie  British  ministry  overreached  themselves  by 
not  believing  him.  "  Speaking  the  truth  to  them  in  sincerity," 
said  Franklin,  "  was  my  only  finesse." 

In  his  intercourse  with  the  British  government  he  contem- 
plated the  course  of  events  as  calmly  as  he  would  have  watched 
a  process  of  nature.  His  judgment  was  quick  and  infallible ; 
his  connnunications  jn-ompt  and  precise  ;  his  frankness  perfect. 
He  never  shunned  responsibiUty,  and  never  assumed  too  much 
of  it.  His  single  breast  contained  the  spirit  of  his  nation ;  and 
in  every  instance  his  answers  to  the  ministry  and  their  emis- 
saries were  those  which  the  voice  of  America  would  have  dic- 
tated could  he  have  taken  her  counsel.  In  him  is  discerned 
no  deficiency  and  no  excess.     Full  of  feeling,  even  to  passion, 


f   <■■     ri 


f            '  ■ 

r  ,  ■  -■ 
i 

;',  i      j        ^.   :    i 

f  T 


i  -^  I 


140         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EI'.  III.  ;  tu.  IX. 


be  ol)servoJ  and  reasoned  and  spoke  serenely.  Of  all  men, 
lie  was  the  friend  to  peace ;  but  the  terrors  of  a  sanguinary 
civil  war  did  not  conf.ise  his  perceptions  or  impair  his  firm- 
ness, lie  went  home  to  assist  in  the  establishment  of  indepen- 
dence, and,  tliJ-ough  indei)endence,  of  peace. 

He  was  tailing  out  of  the  British  chamiel  with  a  fair  wind 
when,  on  the  twenty-second  of  Ararch,  lulmuiid  Hurke,  speak- 
ing for  tho  party  of  the  old  whigs,  who  had  mistakenly  ex- 
tended  the  revolution  principle  of  the  absolute  power  of  parlia- 
ment in  Britain  to  the  external  um-epresented  parts  of  tho 
English  empire,  brought  forward  in  the  house  of  commons 
resolutions  for  conciliiition  with  America.  Jle  began  by  ])ro- 
nouncing  a  splendid  eulogy  on  the  colonies,  whose  rapid  growth 
from  families  to  communities,  from  villages  to  nations,  attended 
by  a  commerce,  great  out  of  all  proportion  to  their  nmnbera, 
had  added  to  England  in  a  single  life  as  nmch  as  England  had 
been  grovi^iug  to  in  a  series  of  seventeen  hundred  years. 

Tho  subject  before  the  house  was  the  bill  prohibiting  New 

England  from  the  fisheries,  and  he  most  skilfully  made  his  way 

through  it  to  his  great  design,  saying:  "As  to  the  wealth 

which  the  colonies  have  drawn  from  the  sea  by  their  fisheries, 

pray  what  in  the  M'orld  is  equal  to  it  ?    Pass  by  tho  other  ]iarts, 

and  look  at  the  manner  in  which  the  people  of  Xew  England 

have  of  late  carried  on  the  whale  fishery.     While  we  follow 

them  among  the  tumbling  mountains  of  ice,  and  behold  them 

penetrating  into  the  deepest  frozen  recesses  of  Hudson's  bay 

and  Davis's  straits,  we  hear  that  they  have  jnerced  into  the 

opposite  region  of  ])olar  cold,  that  they  are  at  the  antipodes, 

and  engaged  under  the  frozen  serpent  oif  the  South.     Falkland 

island,  which  seemed  too  remote  and  romantic  an  object  for 

the  grasp  of  national  ambition,  is  but  a  resting-place  in  the 

progress  of  their  victorious  industry.     Nor  is  the  equinoctial 

heat  more  disconraging  to  them  than  the  accumulated  winter 

of  both  the  poles.     While  some  of  them  draw  the  line  and 

strike  the  harpoon  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  others  jiursue  their 

gigantic  game  along  the  coast  of  Brazil.     No  sea  but  what  is 

vexed  by  their  fisheries ;  no  climate  that  is  not  -witness  to  their 

toils.     Neither  the  perseverance  of  Holland,  nor  the  activity 

of  France,  nor  the  dexterous  and  firm  sagacity  of  English  en- 


i 
I 


1778.  THE  KIXQ  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCESS.  141 

torj)rise,  ever  carried  thU  most  perilous  mode  of  hard  industry 
to  the  extent  to  which  it  has  been  pushed  hy  this  recent  ])eo- 
plc— a  people  who  are  still,  as  it  were,  but  in  the  ^rristle,  and 
not  yet  hardened  into  the  bone  of  manhood.  AVhen  I  contem- 
phite  these  things ;  when  I  know  tliat  the  colonies  in  general 
owe  little  or  nothing  to  any  care  of  ours,  but  that,  through  a 
wise  and  salutary  neglect,  a  generous  nature  has  been  sulfered 
to  take  her  own  way  to  perfection  ;  when  I  see  how  proHtablc 
these  effects  have  been  to  us,  I  feel  all  the  pride  of  power 
molt  and  die  away  within  me.  My  rigor  relents.  I  pardon 
something  to  the  spirit  of  liberty. 

"From  six  capital  sources  :  descent,  form  of  government 
religion  in  the  northern  provinces,  manners  in  the  southern,' 
education,  the  remoteness  of  situation  from  the  iirst  mover  of 
government— from  all  these  causes  a  fierce  spirit  of  liberty  has 
grown  up.  It  looks  to  me  narrow  and  pedantic  to  apply  the 
ordinary  ideas  of  criminal  justice  to  this  great  public  contest. 
I  do  not  know  the  method  of  drawing  up  an  indictment  against 
a  whole  people. 

"  ]\fy  idea,  therefore,  without  considering  whether  we  yield 
as  matter  of  right,  or  grant  as  matter  of  favor,  is  to  admit  the 
people  of  our  colonies  into  an  interest  in  the  constitution.  A 
revenue  from  America !  You  never  can  receive  it,  no,  not  a 
shilling.  For  all  service,  whether  of  revemie,  trade,  or  empire, 
my  hold  of  the  colonies  is  in  the  dose  affection  which  grows 
from  conmion  names,  from  kindred  blood,  from  similar  privi- 
leges, and  equal  protection.  Let  them  always  keep  the  idea  of 
their  civil  rights  associated  with  your  government,  they  will 
cling  and  grapple  to  you,  and  no  force  under  heaven  will  be 
of  power  to  tear  them  from  their  allegiance  ;  deny  them  this 
participation  of  freedom,  and  you  break  the  unity  of'  the  empire. 
It  is  the  spirit  of  the  English  constitution,  which,  infused 
through  the  mighty  mass,  vivifies  every  part  of  the  empire, 
even  down  to  the  minutest  member.  Is  it  not  the  same  virtue 
which  does  everything  for  us  here  in  England  ? 

"  All  this,  I  know  well  enough,  will  sound  wild  and  chi- 
merical to  the  profane  herd  of  those  vulgar  and  mechanical 
politicians  who  think  that  nothing  exists  but  what  is  gross  and 
material;  and  who,  therefore,  far  from  being  qualified  to  be 


f : 


J 


142         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  in. :  oil.  IX. 


'n 


directors  of  tlio  great  movement  of  empire,  are  not  fit  to  turn 
a  wheel  in  the  maehine.  Hut  these  riilin;,'  and  master  prinei- 
ple.s  are  in  truth  everytliiiig,  and  all  in  all.  Magnanimity  in 
politics  is  not  seldom  the  truest  wisdom ;  and  a  great  empire 
and  little  minds  go  ill  together.  If  we  are  conseious  of  our 
situation,  and  glow  with  zeal  to  till  our  places  as  hecomes  our  sta- 
tion and  ourselves,  we  ought  to  ele-  ate  our  minds  to  the  great- 
ness of  that  trast  to  which  the  order  of  Providence  lias  ealled 
us.  By  adverting  to  the  dignity  of  this  liigh  calling,  our 
ancestors  have  turned  a  savage  wilderness  into  a  glorious 
emi)ire,  and  have  made  tlie  most  extensive  and  the  only  hon- 
orable coiujuest;  by  i)romoting  the  wealth,  the  number,  the 
liappiness  of  the  human  race." 

For  three  hours  JJurke  was  heard  with  attention  ;  l)ut,  after 
a  rei)ly  by  Jenkinson,  his  deep  wisdom  was  scotfed  away  by  a 
vote  of  more  than  three  to  one.  Ministers  anticipated  even 
less  opposition  in  the  colonies. 

At  the  North,  the  state  of  Vermont  was  preparing  to  rise 
from  anarchy  into  self-existence,  peace,  and  order.     The  court 
of  conuuon  pleas  was  to  be  opened  by  the  royal  judges  in  what 
was  called  the  Xew  York  county  of  C^unberland,  at  Westmin- 
ster, in  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  on  the  caotern  side  of  the 
Green  ]\Iountains.     To  prevent  this  assertion  of  the   jurisdic- 
tion of  New  York  and  of  the  authority  of  the  king,  a  body  of 
young  men  from  the  neighboring  farms  on  the  thirteenth  of 
March  took  possession  of  the  court-house.     The  royal  sheriff, 
who,  against  the  wish  of  the  judges,  had  raised  sixty  men 
armed  with  guns  and  l)lndgeons,  demanded  possession  of  the 
building ;  and,  after  reading  the  riot  act  and  refusing  to  con- 
cede terms,  late  in  the  niglit  ordered  his  party  to  fire.     In  this 
way  he  made  his  ci.    ,   by  force,  having  mortally  wounded 
William  French  of  Brattleborough,  and  Daniel  Houghton  of 
Dunnnerston.     The  act  closed  tlie  supremacy  of  the  king  and 
of  New  York  to  the  cast  of  Lake  Cham])lain.     Armed  men 
poured  in  from  towns  in  the  Grants  and  from  the  borders  of 
New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts.     They  instituted  a  jury 
of  inquest,  and  the  royalists  implicated  in  the  attack  were  "sent 
to  jail  in  Massachusetts  for  trial.     They  were  soon  released ; 
but  the  story  of  the  first  martyrs  in  the  contest  with  the  lung 


1775.  THE  ICING  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  .srccESS.  143 

was  tol.I  from  villa-o  t..  villa-c  as  a  talo  of  tyranny  an.l  nu.r- 
•ler.     Jii.t  I,c"i..rc  tliM  shf<l,li„fr  „f  M,,,,,!,  Ethan  Allen,  foresoo- 
mg  war  with  (hvat  JJritain,  Kent  assuranooH  to  Oliver  Wolcott 
of  Connecticut,  that  "the  re-i.nent  of  (Jreen  M.mntain  iluvs 
would  a.ss.8t  their  American  hrethren."     Ou  the  twenty-ninth 
John    Drown  of  PittsiieM,  uhu  had   passe.l  throu-h  the  dis- 
trict on   hi.s  way  to  Montreal,  wrote  to  Samuel  Adams  and 
Jo.sc-i)h  AVarren  at  Boston,  that,  "should  hostilities  ho  com- 
mitted  hy  the  king's  troops,  the  people  on  New  Ilampshiro 
Grants  would  seize  the  fort  at  Ticonderoga ;  and  that  they  were 
the  i)roi)er  persons  for  the  joh." 

The  assenihly  of  Delaware,  which  met  on  the  day  of  tho 
shedding  of  1,'oud  in  Vermont,  approved  the  i)roceedingH  of 
the  congress  at  Philadelphia;  hut,  in  re-electing  their  deputies 
they  avowed  their  most  ardent  wish  for  an  accommodation  with 
(ireat  Britain,  f,.r  which  end  they  were  willing  to  yield  claims 
of  right  that  were  either  douhtful  or  "not  essentially  neces- 
sary to  their  well-heing."     The  session  was  specially  .,  .n.r- 
tant,  from  the  instruction  given  to  their  deputies  iueongixss 
to  urge  decently  hut  firmly  the  right  of  ,i,eir  province  fo  a 
voice  in  congress  equal  with  any  other  province  on  this  con- 
tinent.    A   hill   was   i)assed   prohihiting  tho   importation  of 
s  aves;  but  the  proprietary  governor,  obeying  the  decision  of 
the  king  in  council,  interposed  his  veto.     In  tho  nei-hhorinfr 
county  of  Westchester,  in  Penusylvania,  a  movement  was  made 
for  the  manumission  of  slaves,  especially  of  all  infants  born 
ot  black  mothe.'-s  within  the  colony." 

Early  in  JMarch  the  goN-ernor  of  Korth  Carolina,  having 
returned  by  land  from  New  York  to  his  government,  reported 
to  tlie  British  secretary  of  state:  "In  Virginia  the  ferment 
bas  1.1  no  sort  abated,  as  I  think  the  advertisement  of  Mr 
\V^as.-ngton  and  others,  that  your  lordship  ^vill  find  inclosed 
plainly  discovers."     The  inclosuro  consisted  of  the  Fairfax  re- 
solves, to  which  Washington  had  set  his  name.     In  his  own 
government,  Martin  sought  to  neutralize  the  convention  by 
holding  simultaneously  a  meeting  of  the  legislature ;  but,  on 
t^.e  fifth  of  April,  the  convention  of  North  Carolina,  in  which 
Kichard  Caswell  was  the  most  consi)icuous  member,  unani- 
mously adhered  to  tl>o  general  congress,  re-elceted  their  dele- 


1     (  iS 


144  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


KP.  in.;  en.  IX. 


gates,  and  "invested  tlicm  M-ith  snch  power  as  might  make 
any  act  done  by  tliem,  or  any  of  tliem,  or  consent  given  in  be- 
lialf  of  tlie  province,  obligatory  in  iionor  npon  every  inluibi- 
tant  tliercof."  Yet  i)ropositions  to  array  an  armed  force  were 
overniled. 

The  members  of  the  convention  of  Virginia,  i'>  ^\■hk]\  even 
the  part  of  Angnsta  county  Avest  of  the  Alleghany  .Alountains 
was  rci)resented,  cherished  the  system  of  limited  monarchy  un- 
der whicli  they  had  been  born  and  educated.     Though  quick  to 
resent  aggivssion,  they  abhorred  tlie  experiment  of  changing 
their  form  of  government  by  revolution  without  some  absolute 
necessity.     Virginia  ^-a^  moreover,  unprepared  for  war.     Its 
late  expedition  against  the  Shawnee  Indians  had  left  a  debt  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  pounds  ;   its  currency  was  of 
paper,  and  -"t  had  no  efficient  system  of  revenue.     Its  soil, 
especially  in  the  low  countiy,  was  cultivated  by  negro  slaves' 
so  .'lat  the  laborers  in  the  field  could  not  furnish  recniits  for 
an  army.     Excc])t  a  little  powder  in  a  magazine  near  Williams- 
burg, it  was  destitute  of  warlike  stores.     Of  all  the  colonies, 
the  magnificent  bay  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  deep  water  of 
the  James,  the  York,  the  Potomac,  and  other  rivers,  exposed  it 
most  to  invasions  from  the  sea. 

On  the  twentieth  of  JMarch  its  second  convention  assem- 
bled at  Richmond,  in  the  old  church  of  St.  John,  on  the  hill 
which  overlooks  the  town.  The  proceedings  of  the  conti- 
nental congress  and  the  conduct  of  the  delegates  of  the  colony 
were  ap])rove(i  with  unaninu-ty.  On  the  twenty-third  the 
mediating  interposition  of  the  assembly  of  Jamaica  was  recog- 
nised as  a  proof  of  "their  patriotic  endeavors  to  fix  the  just 
claims  of  the  colonists  upon  permanent  constitutional  princi- 
ples ; "  and  assurances  were  renewed  "  tliat  it  was  the  most 
ardent  wish  of  their  colony,  and  of  the  whole  continent  of 
North  America,  to  see  a  s])eecly  return  of  those  halcyon  days 
when  they  lived  a  free  and  ha])py  people.'' 

But,  with  all  their  love  of  peace  under  the  government  of 
the  king,  the  inuninence  of  danger  di-ove  them  irresistibly  to 
the  Fairfax  resolves.  A  motion,  couched  in  the  very  words  to 
which  Wa..hington  in  person  had  set  his  name,  was  brought 
forward  by  Patrick  Henry,  with  its  logical  consequences,  "that 


1775. 


THE  KIXG  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCESS. 


the 


145 

and  di.,„„,.„„  ,i,,/,.  n:,£S^  ::"  ^tbfsr-"^; 

for  that  nrrnn^o "     Ti.^        i  ..  "'<^y  oe  sutbcient 

ui         I  i.iposo.       Ihc  resolution  was  opposed  l)v  IM.n.i  tt 

nson,  and  Pendleton,  three  of  tlie  dele^n  e  of  Vi^  '   ^''" 

gress,  and  by  KicJ.ol-..  .,.1.^  i    a\   '^^"-"'^^^^  «*   V  irguna  in  con- 

part,,  hilt  rath:^.'ie     n^^^^^^^ 

::::dti;e;^^-^r-^^^^^-^-^"^^^^^ 

^ued  ni  the  liope  of  reunion.     "Where  i.v  nnv  cf 

To  ir i:!;;;:'™^"' "'r^' '°™"''^»'''=  -*■-■" 

spair  when  ovo  Ivell  I  d«,T    '■  '■""'■'.'"  """^-^^  °*  <>- 

TT  ,.     ^^^'^^ounded  hope  nas  vanished  " 

be  free,  thov  must  fi-W.f  t    '    .  ^'"^V  ""*'  '^  ^^"erieans  would 

after  comparin"     wi  h        •     '^  ^^  '«]"'"'  *'"=  '^'"'""«^.  "-d, 
wlio  liatli  his  ,|„a„.ol  j„st  I "  ^       '    "'"""  "* '«'  amied 

.nittL':  r„:;sr  r  p:S'ir ''°  *^';°  f-'-  ^*"''  -  -- 

Washington,  JoflCn,  a  ^otho"  "7 'a  fcf'i''  "™^^  ^-' 
plan  for  f„n„i„„  i„  ov,-,  >-  „„    T  '"'''■>"  '-"Ported  a 

panics  and  tro  ^s  of  ,  se  „  {:"?  "'' "T  ™'""'-'  -»- 
readiness.  Whatever  12',  I  ^,  ?"f "'"  "■"'""«  •''"'I 
I>Ian  ,v„s  nnanii^ns/a    0  t         N.VI    >      ''"  ?f '""''  '^« 

desii-ed  the  more  c„i4t L  I^t„^  ^        "'•"•'"  ™"  '"'™ 

T^i  .  '>-'_,Ltii.  nieasure  oi  oro-amV  lur  qti   r,..™„ 

rho  convention  vof-orl  f^  ^,  ,     '^'c'lnizing  an  army. 

len,  cotton,  ^^d  ^h  1      ;  y^lZ^^^'f  -"".letureof  woi 

steel;   and  rec<>nnnended  toT  I'v      '       ""^  "'°"  ^"^ 

^nanufaetures  in  p;:;£!^crt      l/^^'riv    "Vt'^^ 
their  body,  they  oLtocl  tbnl,   f  ,,       ""'^  dissolving 

congress  "in  May    ^  1  r  ^''™''  '^"^'^'^*^^  *«  ^^'°  general 

"incaeof  then'i     ;'"--       '"'  ""'"^^''  ^''^-^  J^^^-n^ 
of  the    on-attcndanee  of  Peyton  Randolph."  "  ' 


'  « 


j;,    ,   I 


■ 

1      '■  n 

1 

■ 

■ 

■  ■;    ;  r 

1 

,if  :  ; 
"  1  ;■■!     : 

1 

trinfi  imiii  > 


11     iil 


146  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  cii.  ix. 

To  intiiuidute  tlie  Virginians,  Dnnniorc  issued  proclama- 
tions, and  circulated  a  rumor  that  he  would  excite  an  insuiTec- 
tion  of  their  slaves.  By  his  orders  a  body  of  marines  in  the 
night  preceding  the  twenty-first  of  April  carried  off  the  gun- 
powder stored  at  AVillianisburg  in  the  colony's  magazine ;  but, 
as  soon  as  it  was  known,  drums  were  seiit  through  the  city  to 
alarm  the  inhabitants ;  the  independent  company  arrayed  itself 
in  arms;  the  peoi)le  assembled  for  consultation,  and  at  their 
instance  the  mayor  and  corporation  peremptorily  demanded  of 
the  governor  that  the  powder  should  be  restored. 

The  governor  at  iirst  answered  evasively ;  but,  on  heariug 
that  the  citizens  had  reassembled  under  arms,  he  abandoned 
himself  to  passion.  "  The  whole  country,"  said  he,  "  can  easily 
be  made  a  solitude;  and,  by  the  living  God!  if  any  insult  is 
offered  to  me,  or  tliose  who  have  obeyed  my  orders,  I  will  de- 
clare freedom  to  the  slaves,  and  lay  the  town  in  ashes." 

The  offer  of  freedom  to  the  negroes  came  very  oddly  from 
the  representative  of  the  nation  which  had  sold  them  to  their 
present  masters,  and  of  the  king  who  had  been  displeased  with 
Virginia  for  its  desire  to  tolerate  that  inhuman  tralKc  no  longer ; 
and  it  was  but  a  sad  resource  for  a  connnercial  metropolis  to 
keep  a  hold  on  its  colony  by  letting  loose  slaves  against  its  own 
colonists. 

The  seizure  of  the  powder  startled  Alrginia.  "  This  first 
public  insult  is  not  to  be  tamely  submitted  to,"  wrote  Hugh 
Mercer  and  others  from  Fredericksburg  to  Washington ;  and 
they  proposed,  as  a  body  of  light-horsemen,  to  march  to  Will- 
iamsburg for  tlie  honor  of  Virginia.  CJloucester  county  would 
have  the  powder  restored.  The  Henrico  connnittee  would  be 
content  with  nothing  less.  Bedford  offered  a  premium  for 
the  manufacture  of  gunpowder.  The  independent  company 
of  Dumfries  could  be  depended  upon  for  any  service  which 
respected  the  liberties  of  America.  The  Albemai-le  volunteers 
"  were  ready  to  resent  arbitrary  power,  or  die  in  the  attempt." 
"I  expect  the  magistrates  of  Williamsburg,  on  their  allegiance," 
such  was  Dunmore's  message,  "  to  stop  the  march  of  the  peo- 
ple now  on  their  way,  b^-fore  they  enter  this  city;  otherwise, 
it  is  my  fixed  jmrpose  to  arm  all  my  own  negroes,  and  receive 
and  declare  free  all  others  that  will  come  to  me.     I  do  enjoin 


•  ■'«^%i,.^ 


1775.  THE  KING  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SOCOESS.  U7 

the  magistrates  and  all  loyal  subjects  to  repair  to  my  assist- 
ance „r  I  sl.all  consider  the  wl.olo  country  in  rebellion,  and 
rnyself  at  hberty  to  annoy  it  by  every  possible  means;  olad  I 
shall  not  hesitate  at  reducing  houses  to  ashes,  and  spreadin.. 
devastation  wherever  I  can  reach."  To  the  British  ministr? 
he  wrote:  "With  a  small  body  of  trooj^  and  arms  co  d 
r.a,se  such  a  force  from  among  Indians,  negroes,  and  other 
pei-sons,  as  would  soon  reduce  the  refra  tory  people  of  th 
colony  to  obedience."  ^  ^    '  ' 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April  there  were  at  Fredericks- 
burg upward  of  six  hundred  well-armed  men.  A  c^imcd  of 
one  hundred  and  two  weighed  the  moderating  advice  r  eived 
frourAVasIungton  and  Peyton  Randolph,  and  they  agreed  to 

11^™!  Li  ""'  f  ""^  ""''  l'"=''«^'l  '»  each'otirer  I^ 

vcs  and  fortunes  to  .ea^semble  at  a  moment's  warning,  and 

ky  force  of  arms  to  defend  the  laws,  the  liberty,  and  rights  of 

sT  f    Ti°T'  ''"T  «»'»"■':  *™"  ""J-'  and  wicked  inva- 
sioru^   I  ho  mess.age  from  a  s,stor  colony  was  already  on  the 

In  New  York  the  feebleness  of  its  antiquated  assembly  was 
r^mechod  by  the  zeal  of  its  people.    The  merchants  who  fn^ 

at  the  hbeay-pole  as  enennes  to  the  country.  When  Sean, 
who  moved  that  every  man  should  provide  hLelf  with  S 
and-twenty  rounds,  was  carried  l»fore  the  mayor  and  retused 

m    uumph  to  a  pnbhc  meeting.     When  the  assembly  bv  a 

laughod  at  Its  vote  and  enforced  the  association.     Whe-,  it  re 
fused  to  choose  delegates  to  .anoth.^r  congress,  a  poll  was  taken 
throughout  the  city,  and  the  decision  was  ^veu-se,! XS" 
hundred  and  t,venty-five  .against  one  hnndi-ed  and  sixtv-tSo 
more  than  hvc  to  one.    The  rural  counties  co-opemtod  wTh 
tlio  e.ty,  and,  on  the  twentieth  of  April,  forty-o  ,o  tk^es 
met..;,  convention,  chose  Philip  Livin^on  unanimous^  th 
presKeut,  re-elected  to  congre..  all  their  old  mombc  e.xcep 
one,  who  was  lukcwam,  and  uiunimonsly  added  five  other, 
among  them  Philip  Schuyler,  George  Clintor,, ..  d  Robe    ? 
Livrngston,  to  "  concert  measures  for  the  preser;ation  of  11": 


'      T 


'M- 


:  )  'i 


i^^- — 


li  I 


I       i 


I, 


148  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III.  ;  ciI.  IX. 


can  riglits,  and  for  the  restoration  of  liarmonj  between  Great 
nritain  and  the  colonies." 

On  the  first  day  of  April  the  provincial  congress  of  Mas- 
sachusetts voted  that,  if  the  royal  governor  would  issue  writs 
in  the  usual  form  for  the  election  of  a  general  assembly,  the 
towns  ought  to  obey  tlie  i)reccpts  and  elect  members ;  otherwise, 
delegates  should  be  chosen  for  a  third  provincial  congress.  On 
the  second,  two  vessels  arrived  at  IMarblehead,  with  the  tidings 
that  both  houses  of  parliament  had  pledged  to  the  king  their 
lives  and  fortunes  for  the  reduction  of"  America,  that  Kew 
England  was  prohibited  from  the  fisheries,  and  that  the  army 
of  Gage  was  to  be  largely  re-enforced.  On  the  third,  congress 
required  the  attendance  of  all  absent  members,  and  desired  the 
towns  not  yet  represented  to  send  members  without  delay. 

The  most  ajipalhng  danger  hung  over  them  from  the  In- 
dians of  the  north-west,  whom  La  Corno,  iramilton  the  lieu- 
tenant-governor for  Detroit,  and  other  Canadian  emissaries 
were  seeking  to  influence,  while  Guy  Johnson  was  remov- 
ing the  American  missionaries  from  the  Six  Nations.  Dart- 
mouth college,  "  a  new  and  defenceless"  institution  of  charity 
on  the  frontier,  where  children  of  the  Six  Nations  received 
Christian  training,  was  "  threatened  with  an  army  of  savages." 
To  countervail  their  efforts,  Eleazer  Wlieelock,  president  of  the 
college,  sent  the  young  New  England  preacher,  James  Dean, 
who  was  a  great  master  of  the  language  of  the  Iroquois,  "  to 
itinerate  among  the  tribes  in  Canada  and  brighten  the  chain  of 
friendship.'" 

To  the  ]\Io)iawks  the  Massachusetts  congress  despatched 
the  wise  and  humane  Samuel  Kirkland,  who  had  lived  among 
them  as  a  nn'ssionary,  to  prevail  with  them  "  at  least  to  stand 
neuter,  and  not  assist  their  enemies."  It  voted  a  blanket  and 
a  riljbon  to  each  of  the  converted  Indians  who  were  domiciled 
at  Stockbridge,  saying:  "  AVe  are  all  brothers,"  and  the  Stock- 
bridge  Indians  on  their  part  promised  to  entreat  tlie  Six  Na- 
tions not  to  take  pai-t  in  the  war. 

The  congress  of  .Massachusetts  adopted  a  codo  for  its  future 
army,  yet  formed  none.  They  enjoined  every  town  to  have 
its  committee  of  correspondence  ;  they  ordered'a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  for  the  unio.^  of  the  American  colonies  and  their 


\] 


1775.  THE  KIXG  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCESS.  149 

direction  to  such  measures  as  God  would  approve  ;  they  en- 
couraged the  poc-  of  Boston  to  move  into  thi  eounlry ;  they 
sent  special  envoys  to  each  of  the  other  New  England  states  to 

rju ;';'""'?;/"''  T'!^  '''  --'"^-f  defence;  and  they 
mged  'tlie  nnhtia  and  nunute-men  "  in  the  several  towns  to 
be  on  the  alert.  They  forbade  every  act  tlu.t  could  be  inte  ' 
preted  as  a  commencement  of  hostilities,  but  tlioy  resolved 

If 


unammonsly  that  the  militia  might  act  on  the  defensive.     If 
he  forces  of  the  colony  should  be  called  out,  the  member,  of 
the  congress  agreed  to  repair  instantly  to  C^oncord.     Then"  on 
tl.e  hlteenth  of  April  they  adjourned,  expecting  a  long  'and 
ue  perate  war  with  the  nn'ghty  power  of  Great  Britain,  yet 
with  no  hnancial  preparations;  not  a  soldier  in  service  ;  hardly 
aunnunztum  enough  for  a  paradeday;  scarcely  more  than  ten 
iron  cannon  and  four  of  brass  ;  with  no  executive  but  the 
committee  of  safety  ;  no  government  but  by  committees  of  cor- 
respondence ;  no  visible  centre  of  authority.     Anarchy  would 
ave  prevailed  but  for  the  resistless  principle  in  the  lieart  of 
the  people  which  could  unite  and  organize  and  o-uido 

On  the  tenth  of  April,  Wilkes,  the  lord  mayor,'with  tl  ^ 
aldermen  and  livery  of  London,  following  an  ancient  form, 
complained  to  the  king  in  person  that  the  real  purpose  of  his 
mmisters  was  "to  estabhsh  arbitrary  power  over  all  America," 
and  besought  h.m  to  dismiss  them.     The  king  answered  •  "  It 
IS  with  the  utmost  astonishment  that  I  find  any  of  my  subjects 
capab  e  of  encouraging  the  rebellious   disposition  which  un- 
Z^]\  exists  in  some  of  my  colonies  ; "  and,  by  a  letter  from 
he  lord  chamberlain,  he  announced  his  purpose  never  again 
to  i^ceive  any  address  from  the  lord  mayor  and  aldermen  \ut 
in  their  corporate  capacity. 

If  more  troops  were  sent,  the  king's  standard  erected,  and 

iiiTfof     il  '      r'-'"^  "iMrutchinson  was  read,  to  ^talce 
ins  life  for  the  submission  of  the  colonies 

Koi^fr  y  r'^'  '"''!^n  ^''"'-   '^  '^''  ^'"^''y  «^  "^''^^^ters.     Like 

^oith  Carolina  and  Georgia,  it  was  excepted  from  restraints 

•nposed  ou  the  trade  and  fisheries  of  all  the  rest.     The  defec- 

c'cent.d'V'""''/'J"'"  '^'''''''  of  the  general  congress  was 
accep  ed  as  proof  that  it  would  adhere  to  the  Icing;  and  the 
I'Htish  generals,  who  were  on  the  point  of  sailing  f^l 'ai. .rS^ 


1 1 


I  I  I 


H- 


iiO  AMERICA  ARMS   FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Kl>.  Ill    ■   CIl.  IX. 


W(!rc!  (]is])iit.iii<jj  for  iJio  commiiiul  ;it  tliiit  jiliico.  "  IJiii-froync 
would  best  niaiia^'o  ii  lU'^rotiatioii,"  said  tiie  king;  but  Jlowc 
would  not  resign  bi.s  rigbt  to  New  York  as  tlic  post  of  conli- 
<lcn(;o.  All  belioved  tliat  it  bad  boon  won  over  to  tlie  royal 
cause,  and  tbat  tlie  otber  jn-ovinces  could  easily  bo  detacbed 
oiu;  by  one  from  tlie  union,  so  tbat  it  would  be  a  liglit  task  to 
subdue  Massacbu.setts. 

()n  tlie  Hftcentb  of  Aju-il  orders  from  Lord  Dartmoutli  were 
written  to  (Jage  to  take  possession  of  every  colonial  fort;  to 
seize  and  secure  all  military  stores  of  every  kind,  collected  for 
tlie  rebels  ;  to  arrest  and  imprison  all  sucb  as  slioidd  be  tliouglit 
to  liave  committed  f reason;  to  repress  rebellion  Uy  fon-e  ;  to 
make  tbe  public  safety  tlie  iirst  object  of  consideration  ;  to 
substitute  more  coercive  measures  for  ordinary  form,  of  jn'o- 
ceeding,  witbout  pausing  "to  recjuire  tbe  aid  of  a  civil  magis- 
trat(\"  Tburlow  and  AVedderburn  had  given  i.air  opinion 
that  tlie  Massacbusetts  congress  was  a  treasonable  body  ;  tbe 
power  of  pardon  wlii(;b  wa,^  conferred  on  the  general  did  not 
extend  to  the  president  of  "tbat  seditious  meeting,"  nor  to 
"its  most  forward  membi'rs,"  wbo,  as  unlit  subjects  for  the 
king's  mercy,  were  to  be  brouglit  "to  condign  punislimcnt" 
either  in  America  or  in  England. 

Four  of  the  regiments,  at  first  destined  to  Boston,  received 
orders  to  proceed  directly  to  New  York,  where  their  ])i'esenco 
was  to  aid  tlio  progress  of  intrigue.  At  the  same  time,  the 
Senegal  carried  out  six  ])ackage8,  eacli  containing  a  very  Lirgo 
iiumbLM-of  copies  of  "An  Address  of  the  PeopkM)f  Great  r>r?t- 
ain  to  tlie  Inliabitants  of  America,"  written  by  Sir  Jobu  Dal- 
rymple  at  Lord  Nortli's  recpiest. 

"  From  tbe  late  diil'erencos,"  said  the  ])amplilet,  with  the 
assumption  of  full  autliority,  "it  is  the  fault  of  us  botb  if  we 
do  uot  derive  future  agreement  by  some  great  act  of  state.  Let 
the  colonies  make  the  iirst  advance ;  if  not,  parliament  will  do 
so  by  sending  a  commission  to  America.  The  iirst  lienor  will 
belong  to  the  party  which  shall  first  scorn  i>unctilio  in  so  noble 
a  cause.  AVe  give  up  the  disgraceful  and  odious  privilege  of 
taxing  you.  The  i)ower  of  taxation  over  you  wo  desire  to 
tlirow  from  us  as  unworthy  of  you  to  be  subject  to,  and  of  m 
to  possess.     As  to  tlie  judges  dependent  oii  the  king's  pleaa- 


1775.  THE  KlXCr  AWAITS  NEWS  OF  SUCCHS^.  15^ 

nro,  if  jou  siisp-et  us,  appoint  your  own  judjrcs,  pay  tliom 
your  oAvn  salaries.  If  wc  are  wron<r  i,i  tiiinkiug  your  charters 
fornie.l  hy  accident,  not  by  foretliou<rlit,  let  tl.eui  stand  as  they 
are.  ^  (Continue  to  share  the  liberty  of  England.  With  such 
sentiments  of  kindness  in  our  breasts,  we  cannot  hear  without 
the  deepest  concern  a  charge  that  a  system  has  been  formed  to 
enslave  yon  l)y  moans  of  parliament." 

l^iese  oilers,  composed  for  Lord  North  and  printed  at  the 
public  cost,  were  sent  out  by  the  government,  to  be  widely 
distributed  at  the  very  time  that  the  vengeful  secret  orders 
were  transmitted  to  Boston.  Yet  Lord  North  was  false  only 
as  he  Wc's  weak  and  uncertain.  He  really  wished  to  concede 
and  conciliate,  Irit  he  had  not  force  enough  to  come  to  a  clear 
miderstanding  with  himself.  When  he  encountered  the  oppo- 
sition in  the  hous3  of  conmions,  he  sustained  his  administra- 
tion by  speak  in  ^r  confidently  for  vi-orous  measures;  M-hen 
alone,  his  heart  sank  within  him  fron         ad  of  civil  war. 

The  memorial  of  the  assembly  of  xNew  York,  whicli  Burke, 
their  agent,  presented  to  parliament  on  the  iifteenth  of  May, 
was  rejected,  becMuso  it  (piestionod  the  ri-ht  of  parliament  to 
tax  America.  Throe  days  later,  Lord  North  avowed  the  orders 
for  raising  Canadian  regiments  of  French  papists  ;  "  however  " 
ho  continued,  "  (ho  dispute  with  America  is  not  so  alarming  as 
some  people  apprehend.  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  it  will 
end  speedily,  happily,  and  without  bloodshed." 

On  the  twenty-third  of  May  secret  advices  from  Philadel- 
phia confirmed  Dartmouth  and  the  king  in  their  confidence 
that  North's  conciliatory  resolution  "  would  remove  all  obsta- 
cles to  the  restoration  of  public  tranquillity,"  through  "  the 
iiioderatic.n  and   loyal  disposition   of   the   assembly  of  New 
1  ork."     The  king,  in  proroguing  parliament  on  the  twenty- 
sixth,  spoke  only  ,.f  "his  subjects  in  America,  whose  wishes 
were  to  be  grati(i(nl  and  apprehensions  removed  as  far  as  the 
constitution  ^y<vM  allow."      The  court  gazette  was  equally 
moderate.     As  yet  no  tidings  came  from  the  colonies  of  a  later 
date  than  the  middle  of  April.      AH  America,  from  Lake 
Uiam])lain  to  the  Altamalia ;  cities  of  Europe,  ]\Lidrid,  Paris 
Amsterdam,  Vienna,  hardly  less  than  London,  were  -azing  with 
expectation  toward  the  little  villages  that  lay  round  Boston, 


)  ^ 


ma  AiMKKICA  ARMS   FOR  Sin.F-DKFF.XOK. 


Ei>.  in. ;  on.  X. 


CII.\PTER   X. 

TO    LKXINOTO.V    ASU   C.NC.ui),    .\M)    UMK    TO    HOSTON. 

Ai'uii,   ID,  1775. 

r,A(iK,  who  had  niulor  his  c-oiu.uiuul  about  throo  tliousand 
dT.H't,v(«  „u-n.  was  infonurd  by  his  spies  of  nuWUuj  stores, 
IMlilul  in  tlinr  amount,  (H.lkrted  by  provincial  cMnniitteos  at 
Worwstor  and  (\mcord;  and  he  resolved  on  strikin^r  a  blow, 
as  the  kni-  dt-sired.  ()„  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  whieh 
the  provincial  eonj^ress  of  ^rassaehusetls  adiourned  lie  took 
the  hoht  infantry  and  ^n-enadiers  olf  d.itv,  and  secretly  jm-g- 
pared  an  expcnlition  to  destroy  the  colony's  stores  at  Concord. 
'I'he  attempt  had  for  sevi>ral  weeks  been  expected ;  and  si-nals 
were  concerted  to  announce  the  iirst  movement  of  troops  for 
tlie  country.  Samuel  Adams  and  Hancock,  who  had  not  yet 
left  Lexino-ton  for  Philadelphia,  received  a  timely  messa-o 
from  AVarrcMi,  and,  in  conse(pience,  the  eonnnittee  of  safety  re- 
moved  a  part  of  the  public  stores  and  s.'creted  the  cannon.' 

On  Tuesday,  the  eio^hteenth  of  April,  ten  or  more  British 
sorg-eauts  in  disguise  dispersed  themselves  through  Cambridge 
and^  farther  west  to  intercept  all  conmninieation.  In  the  fol- 
lowing night  the  grenadiei-s  and  light  infantry,  not  less  than 
eight  hundred  in  number,  the  tlower  of  the  army  at  Boston, 
c'ounuanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  crossed  in  the  boats 
of  the  transport  ships  from  the  foot  of  the  conunon  to  East 
(Cambridge.  There  they  receiveil  a  day's  provisions  ;  and  near 
nndnight,  after  wading  through  wet  marshes  that  are  now 
covered  by  a  stately  city,  they  took  the  road  through  ^Yest 
Cambridge  to  Concord. 

Gage  directed  that  no  one  else  should  leave  the  town;  but 


i77C 


TIIK   NINETKENTH   OF   APRIL   177.-. 
Wnnvn  l.ad,  at  ton  oVIock,  d.-spatdiod  Willia.u  I); 


I 


tDxhuiy,  and   I'aul   R 


153 

uvcs  tliroiijrli 


i,(J 


lliiftoii 


voro  by  way  of  Clmrlustowii,  to  L 


it'X- 


ccrtt'd 


tcivero  stopped  only  to 


Ni^nials,  and  two  friend 


t'liffiXo  a  fi'iiMid  to  r; 


liso  tl 


10  eon- 


n         ••.,-.        ^'"  "■'^'"^'•^ '•<>^\-t'd  luni  across  t'luiries  river 
five  m,,,„to,  l,of,„  tUo  ,e„.i„d,  ,.,„ivo,l  the  orM- 1„  j,,.  I 

t.    All  was  «l,i,  ,„  „„it„,l  ,|,„  |„„„,     The  S„,„c.r,„t  man- 
jar  w„»  w„„|„,,,  „.i,„  tl,„  ,.„,„.  „„o,l;  ,l,o  ,™,i„«  ,„„„1 

..»t  ,K,.r..,l  a  .„v„  a  coar  l,„n>,,n  ;  „,,M,,  f,,„„  ,  ....pl^of  la- 
ta .s  m  tl,Yo«-o,-  „(  tl,o  N,„,l,  clu„..l,,  ,l,„  beacon  st,»,„od 
t.,  the  ne,nl,lK„„,s  to>v,>s  as  fa.st ,«  li^nl.t  e«„l,l  travel 

,,„  t    ,":'','■■'■"".''  '''""■I™">»'n  ..eels  Revere  was  intercepted 

>7  tu-.,  I,r,t,»  ,  „n„.er«  ,„ ,^el,ack ;  but,  being  well  niou,  ted 

.0    .mn,l  MKLlenly  a,„l  e»<.aped  b,  .l,e  r^a.l  t^Medfoir      f 

bat  t,„n,  be  waked  the  captain  ot  the  n,i„„te.„,en,  and  con- 

t  na.l  to  „,„H0  abnost  every  l.onse  on  tbe  wav  to  l,exi„.-ton 

Ibe  troops  l„,,|  not  advanced  far  wl„,,  ,l,e  liring  of         "Z 

...Sins  ot  bells  annonnee.1  tl.at  their  expedition  bad  been  h  . 

MM  ;  and  .S.nith  sent  hack  for  a  ro-enforcenient. 

in  the  earliest  moments  of  the  ninelc'cnth  of  April  the 
mes.„Ke  iron,  Warren  reached  A.lan.s  and   Hancock '^1,^ 
on  e  d,vn,ed  the  object  of  the  expedition.    Itevere  tlerefore 
a,a      .awes  joined  h,  San,„el  pLcott,  "a  high  So    rf  L^ 

L.V  '::.''''';•'''■'''  :t-  *";™'-  °"'"'« "!'•'-  '-i-wtan  s 

back  to  l,exn,gton,  where  tbey  were  release.! ;  bnt  Pre^cott 
Ioa,«l  over  a    ,w  stone  wall,  and  galloped  on  fol.  Concord 
Jbere,  at  about  two  hours  after  midnight,  a  peal  from  the 

bo  1  ""  '"-''"Sf  "'^'  '"■""«'"  '■««"■-  t',e  inhabit!    so 
tho  place,  joung  and  ol.l,  with  their  iirelocks  readv  to  nvd  „ 
Sood  the  resolute  words  of  their  town  del  .  o's    1  n    ,"   h 
mos    ,,lert  was  ffillian,  En.erson,  the  nunister,  wTtWnnt 
Hi,   -  powderd,oru  and  pouch  of  balls  slung  ^ver  his'      ,  " 

■  defence' of"'';;""  rl'^  ''"  '"■"^""  '"^  ''""^  '«™=J  *»  ''»« 
God    1     1?        f'"":   il>e>"os  a  part  of  tbeir  covenant  with 

e     ii-cton.      Lxpie:.s  lucssengors  and  tho  call  of 


I 


.J| 


% 


M',  ! 


1     i   1       ■ 

i.   .[   i      i 

m 

'  ^B 

;  !■; 

'i.    i   '.  , 
1  i/  --.[- 

1 

■   i.         ■ ' 

1 

!      '   i 


(r»f  AMI'Uir.V  AFtMS   FOR  MKLF  DHI'KMCI':.      kimii.;  rrt.  jc. 

iiiiiiiitc  iiicii  sjirciid  widely  (he  uliinii.  I  low  cliildivn  tn'nil)lf(l 
iis  they  wvw  t;c;irc(|  oiil  t>\'  sleep  hy  the  ci'ies!  Iii»w  WoMicn, 
witli  lii'iiviii'jj  Idviists,  liriivcly  wcoiided  their  Imshaiids !  how 
the  cniiiitrymeii,  fi.i-ced  siid<leidy  to  iiriii,  without  t,'ilid«'M  or 
coiiiisellors,  liiok  iii,sl;iiil  coniisel  oi' tlii-ir  (•oiir;i;;(> !  'I'he  iiii'dit  y 
choiMis  of  voices  rosi-  from  the  scattered  l';in:i-lioiises,  iiiid,  as  it 
were,  IVoiii  Iheiishesof  I  he  dead.  Come  iorlli,  ehampiitns  of 
lihorty  ;  now  IVev  your  coimlry  ;  protect  your  sons  and  daii;^di- 
ters,  your  wives  and  homesteads;  rescue  the  houses  of  the 
(J(»d  of  your  fathers,  the  franchiies  handed  down  from  your 
ancestors.      Now  all  is  at  stake;  the  hallle  is  for  all. 

Iie.\in;<;t()n,  in  ITT.'),  may  liave  had  sevi'ii  himdred  iiiiialii- 
tants;  their  minister  was  the  leaiiied  and  l\'rvent  Jonas  Clark, 
the  hold  inditer  of  palri.>lic  stale  papers,  (hat  may  vet  he  read 
on  tlu'ir  town  rcci»rds.  In  Di-cemhei-  ITT'J,  they  had  in- 
structed llieir  n'|»rescntalivc  to  demand  "a  nnllcal  and  las'in:^^ 
ri'dress  of  their  grievances,  for  not  throu^'h  tlieir  ne<;lect  should 
the  people  he  enslaved."  A  year  later,  they  spurned  the  nso 
(»l  lea.  In  I  77  I,  at  various  town-meet ini;-s,  they  voted  "  to  in- 
crease their  slock  of  amnnmition,"  "to  eiicourai^e  military  dis- 
cipline, and  to  |)ut  Ihemselves  in  a  ])iisluro  of  defence  npiinst 
their  enemies."'  In  l)ece!id)er  they  distributed  to  "the  train 
band  and  alarm  list"  arms  and  anunimition,  and  resolved  to 
"snpply  the  trainiuij:  soldiers  with  bayonets." 

At  two  in  the  moniin«:j,  nnder  the  ey(>  of  the  minister,  and 
of  llancoi'k  and  Adams,  Le\in;i:ton  common  was  alive  willi 
the  minute-men;  and  not  with  them  oidy,  but  with  the  ohl 
men,  who  v,ere  exempts,  cxct'pt  in  case  of  immediate  dan<:!:er 
to  the  lown.  'i'he  roll  was  called,  and,  of  militia  and  alarm 
men,  about  one  hundi  \!  and  thirty  imswcred  to  tlieir  names. 
The  captain,  dolm  Pa rki'r,  ordered  every  oii(>  to  load  with  pow- 
der and  ball,  but  to  take  care  ik  *  to  be  lh(>  tirst  to  lire.  Mes- 
seii,i;-ers,  sent  to  loi>k  for  the  iJritisli  rei!;tdai-s,  niporte>l  that 
there  were  no  sio:ns  of  their  ai^])roach.  A  watch  w;is  tliere- 
fore  set,  and  the  company  dismissed  wi!li  orders  to  come  to- 
irother  at  beat  of  drum.  Some  went  to  their  i)wn  homes; 
some  to  the  tavern,  near  (he  soutli-east  corni'r  of  the  com- 
mon. Sanmel  Adams  and  Ilanco  -k,  whose  seizure  wjus  beheved 
to  bo  intended,  were  2)ersuaded  to  retire  towiu-d  Woburn. 


177/5. 


THE  NrNKTEKNTII   OF   AIMtIL   1775. 


155 


Tlio  last  stars  wcro  vaiiishiii^r  f,.()in  ni^rl.t,  wlu.,.  tin-  f,,,-,.. 
Jnost  parly,  led  l.y  Pitcaini,  a  iiiaj...-  cf  rnaniics,  vvuh  diseov- 
('•■.•.I,  advancin-  (,„i(.|<|j  and  in  si!,.,,,-...  AIa,-,n  fruiiH  wcro 
lMv<I,  and  fl.o  drums  Leaf,  n.,t,  a  call  to  vilia-c.  hushandnicn 
oidj  l.nt  tho  reveille  to  l.nn.anity.  Lcsh  than  seventy,  ,,er- 
Jmj.H  lens  tl.an  sixty,  ol„.y,.d  (he  snnnnons,  and,  in  Riirl.t  of  half 
ttH  many  hop  and  n.iann.Ml  men,  were  paraded  in  "two  ranks, 
a  lew  rods  nordi  of  th.,  meetinnj-honse. 

IlowoiVn  in  tiiat  hnihlinrr  had  th..y,  will,  renewal  pro- 
iossions  or  their  faith,  lool^.j  „p  to(}od  as  the  stay  ..f  their 
liithers  and  (1,.!  protector  of  their  priviie^rc-s !  II„w  often  on 
that  -reen,  hard  l,y  the  hnrial-plac.!  of  their  forefath.-rs,  had 
they  pied;;,vd  themselves  to  each  other  to  combat  manfully  for 
then-  hirthrl-ht  inheritance  of  lii.ertv  !  There  they  now  stood 
Hide  l>y  side,  und.M-  the  i)r.)vincial  l.mner,  with  ;,n„s  iu  their 
hands,  sdent  and  fearless,  willin-  to  shi.l  their  blood  for  their 
ri-hts,  scrupulous  not  to  be^rin  civil  war.  'Hi,,  ^a-ound  on  wl  ch 
fl'cy  trod  was  the  altar  of  freedom,  and  (hey  were  t.)  fui-nish 
the  victims. 

The  Uritisb  van,  hearliii,^  the  drum  and  tlie  alarm  ^nins, 
baited  to  l,.;ul;  the  remaining  companies  came  up;  and,  at 
halt  an  hour  before  sunrise,  the  advance  |)arty  hurried  forwaid 
at  doubki  ,|uiek  time,  almost  upon  a  run,  closely  followed  by 
the  grenadiers.  Pitcairn  rode  in  fn.nt,  and,  when  within  five 
or  six  rods  of  the  minute-men,  cried  out:  "  I)is|)erse,  ye  vil- 
lains! ye  rebels,  dis{)erse  1  lay  down  your  arms!  why  don't 
you  lay  down  your  arms  and  disperse  i "  The  main  part  of  tho 
countrymen  stood  inotioidess  in  the  ranks,  witnesses  against 
aggressi.m;  too  few  to  resist,  too  brave  to  %.  At  this^  Pit- 
cairn  discharo-ed  a  jjlstol,  and  with  a  loud  voice  cried,  "  Fire!" 
The  order  was  followe,!  first  by  a  few  guns,  which  did  no 
execution,  and  then  by  a  (dose  and  (h.-dly  discharge  of  mus- 
ketry. 

In  tlie  disparity  of  numbers,  Parker  ordered  his  men  to 
disperse.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  did  a  few  of  them,  on  their 
own  impulse,  n-turn  the  Pritish  tire.  These  random  shots  of 
fugitives  or  dying  men  did  no  harm,  except  that  Pitcairn's 
horse  was  perliaps  grazed,  and  a  private  of  the  tenth  light  in- 
fantry was  touched  slightly  iu  the  leg. 


'1^ 


ri  ■  I 


I'  i 


I 


150         AMIJIICA  ARMH  FOTl  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EI',  m,  ;  CM.  X. 


f    1 


h       ! '!■ 


Jonas  Piirkor,  tlio  stronfjost  and  licst  wrestler  in  Lexin^^ton, 
had  promised  never  to  run  from  British  troops;  and  liu  kejjt 
Ills  vow.  A  wound  brought  liini  on  liis  knees.  Ilavinf;  dis- 
ehar-rc'd  hi.s  gun,  he  was  preparing  to  load  it  again,  -.v hen  Jie 
Avas  Htabhed  hy  a  bayonet,  and  lay  on  tho  post  wh"eh  in  Atk 
at  tlie  morning's  drum-beat.     So  fell  Lsaae  Mw/y.-  i  so 

died  the  aged  Robert  Afunroe,  wlio  in  1758  had  b.c.  t  ?n- 
sign  at  Louisbnrg.  Jonathan  Harrington,  junior,  was  t,Uiick 
in  front  of  his  own  house  on  tho  north  of  t!ie  compi.  ■  His 
wife  was  at  tho  window  as  he  fell.  AVith  blood  gu.-uing  from 
his  breast,  he  rose  in  her  sight,  tottered,  fell  again,  then  crawled 
on  hands  and  knees  toward  his  dwelling  ;  she  ran  to  meet  him, 
but  only  reaehed  Iiim  as  he  expired  on  their  threshold.  Caleb 
Harrington,  who  had  gone  into  the  meeting-house  for  powder, 
was  shot  as  he  came  out.  Samuel  Hadley  and  John  Brown 
were  pursued,  and  killed  after  they  had  left  tho  green.  Asahel 
Porter,  of  AVoburii,  Avho  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Brit- 
ish on  the  niareh,  endeavoring  to  escape,  was  shot  wuthin  a  few 
rods  of  the  common.  Seven  men  of  Lexington  were  killed, 
nine  v.'ounded ;  a  cpiarter  part  of  all  who  stood  in  arms  on  tho 
green. 

Day  came  in  all  tlie  beauty  of  an  early  spring.  The  trees 
were  budding;  the  grass  growing  rankly  a  full  month  before 
its  time ;  the  blue  bird  and  the  robin  gladdening  the  genial 
season,  and  calling  forth  the  beams  of  the  sun  which  on  that 
morning  shone  with  the  warmth  of  summer  ;  but  disti-ess  and 
horror  gathered  over  the  inhabitants  of  the  peaceful  town. 
There  on  the  green  lay  in  death  the  gray-haired  and  the  young; 
the  grassy  field  was  red  "with  the  innocent  blood  of  their 
brethren  slain,"  crying  unto  God  for  vengeance  from  the 
ground. 

These  are  the  village  heroes,  who  were  more  than  of  noble 
blood,  proving  by  their  spirit  that  they  were  of  a  race  divine. 
They  gave  their  lives  in  testimony  to  the  rights  of  mankind, 
bequeathing  to  their  country  an  assurance  of  success  in  tho 
mighty  struggle  which  they  began.  The  expanding  millions 
of  their  countrymen  renew  and  nudtiply  their  praise  from  ge:-- 
oration  to  generation.  They  fulfilled  their  duty  not  from  an 
accidental  impulse  of  the  moment ;  their  action  was  tho  ripened 


1775. 


THE  NINETEENTH  OF  APRIL  1775. 


157 


fruit  of  Providonco  and  of  th.io.     Tho  li-lit  tlint  led  the.u  on 
was  coinhiiicd  of  rays  from  tho  wholo  liistory  of  tho  race; 
from  tliu  tradition.^  of  tho  Uobrows  in  tho  gray  of  tlio  world's 
morninnr;  from  tliu  henus  and  sagos  of  ropnhl'ican  Oroeco  and 
Homo;  from  tho  exauiplo  of  llim  who  diud  on  tho  cross  for 
tlie  hfe  of  Immunity;    from  tho  religions  crood  which  i)ro- 
claimod  the  divine  ;   f.senco  in  man,  and  on  thI^;  trnth,  as  in  a 
lito-boat,  floated  the  liberties  of  nations  over  tho  dark  Hood  of 
the  middle  ages ;  from  the  customs  of  the  Germans  transmitted 
out  of  their  forests  to  the  councils  of  Saxon  England ;  from 
the  burning  faith  and  courage  of  JMartin  Luther^  from  trust 
m  the  inevitable  universality  of  God's  sovereignty  as  taught 
by  Paul  of  Tarsus  and  Augustine,  through  Calvin  and  the 
divmes  of  New  England  ;  from  the  avenging  fierceness  of  the 
Puritans,  who  dashed  the  mitro  on  the  ruins  of  the  throne; 
from  the  bold  dissent  and  creative  self-assertion  of  the  earliest 
enngrants  to  Massachusetts;  from  the  statesman  who  made, 
and  the  philosophers  who  cxi)ounded,  the  revolution  of  Eng' 
.'and ;  fn^m  the  liberal  spirit  and  analyzing  inqulsitivencss  of 
the  eighteenth  century ;  from  the  cloud  of  witnesses  of  all  the 
ages  to  the  reality  and  the  rightfulness  of  human  freedom. 
All  the  centuries  bowed  themselves  from  the  recesses  of  the 
past  to  cheer  in  their  sacrifice  the  lowly  men  who  proved  them- 
selves  worthy  of  their  forerannors,  and  whose  children  rise  up 
and  call  them  blessed. 

Heedless  of  his  own  danger,  Samuel  Adams,  with  the  voice 
of  a  prophet,  exclaimed:  "Oh,  what  a  glorious  morning  is 
this!"  for  ho  saw  his  country's  independence  hastening ^on, 
and,  lik-e  Columbus  in  the  tempest,  knew  that  tho  stomrbore 
hun  more  swiftly  toward  the  undiscovered  world. 

The  British  troops  drew  up  on  the  village  greon,  fired  a 
volley,  hiuzacd  thrice  by  way  of  triumph,  and,  after  a  halt  of 
less  than  thirty  minutes,  marched  on  for  Concord.  There,  in 
the  morning  hours,  children  and  women  fled  for  shelter  to  the 
lulls  and  the  woods,  and  men  were  hiding  what  was  left  of 
cannon  and  military  stores. 

The  minute-men  and  militia  formed  on  the  usual  parade 
over  which  the  congregation  of  the  town  for  near  a  century 
and  a  half  had  passed  to  public  worship,  the  froemon  to  every 


if;',  ii 


M 


■   »iiaiMnri«iiiiTi>' 


158  AMERICA  ARMS   FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  in. ;  en.  x. 

tov/n-mcefing,  and  lately  the  patri(it  members  of  the  provincial 
congress  twice  a  day  to  their  little  senate  house.  Near  thai 
sjiot  Winthroi?,  the  fatiier  of  Massachusetts,  had  given  coun- 
sel ;  and  Eliot,  the  apostle  of  tlie  Indians,  had  spoken  words  of 
benignity  and  wisdom.  The  people  of  Concord,  of  whom 
about  two  hundred  appeared  in  arms  on  that  day,  derived  their 
energy  from  their  sense  of  the  divine  power.  This  looking  to 
God  as  their  sovereign  brought  the  fathers  to  their  pleasant 
valley ;  this  controlled  the  loyalt_y  of  the  sons  ;  and  this  has 
made  the  name  of  Concord  venerable  throughout  the  world. 

The  alarm  company  of  the  place  rallied  near  the  liberty- 
pole  on  the  hill,  to  the  right  of  the  Lexington  road,  in  the  front 
of  the  meeting-house.  They  went  to  the  perilous  duties  of  the 
day  "  with  seriousness  and  acknowledgment  of  God,"  as  though 
they  were  to  engage  in  acts  of  worship.  The  minute  company 
of  Lincoln,  and  a  few  men  from  A.cton,  pressed  in  at  an  early 
hour;  but  the  British,  as  they  approached,  were  seen  to  be 
four  times  as  numerous  as  the  Americans.  The  latter  there- 
fore retreated,  first  to  an  eminence  eighty  rods  farther  north, 
then  across  Concord  river,  by  the  North  Ih-idge,  till  just  be- 
yond it,  by  a  back  road,  they  gained  high  ground,  about  a  mile 
from  the  centre  of  the  town.     There  they  waited  for  aid. 

About  seven  o'clock,  under  brilliant  sun?  aino,  the  British 
marched  with  rapid  step  into  Concord  ;  the  light  infantry 
along  the  hills,  and  the  grenadiers  in  the  lower  road.  Left  in 
undisputed  possession  of  the  hamlet,  they  made  search  for 
stores.  To  this  end,  one  small  party  was  sent  'o  the  South 
Bridge  over  Concord  river ;  and,  of  six  companies  under  Cap- 
tain Laurie,  three,  comprising  a  hundred  soldiers  or  more,  were 
stationed  as  a  guard  at  the  Nortn  Bridge,  while  three  others 
advanced  two  miles  fartlier,  to  the  residence  of  Barrett,  the 
highest  military  officer  of  the  neighl)orhood,  where  arms,  it 
vras  thought,  had  been  concealed,  Jiut  thev  found  tlurc  noth- 
ing to  destroy  except  some  carriages  for  cainion.  His  wife, 
at  theii-  demand,  gave  them  refreshment,  but  refused  pay,  say- 
ing :  "  We  are  connnauded  to  feed  our  enemy,  if  he  hunger," 

At  daybreak  the  miimte-men  of  Acton  crow^ded  at  the 
drum-beat  to  the  house  of  Isaac  Davis,  their  captain,  who 
"miRlo  hasce  to  be  ready."     Just  thirty  j  ears  old,  the  father 


1775. 


THE   NINETEENTH  OF  APRIL  1775. 


.59 


of  four  little  ones,  stately  in  his  person,  a  man  of  few  words 
earnest  even  to  solemn  it j,  he  parted  from  his  wife,  savin  «• ' 
"Take  good  care  of  the  children;"  and,  while  she  gazed  aft" r 
him  with  resignation,  he  led  off  his  comi)any. 

Between  nine  and  ten  the  numher  of  Americans  on  the 
gronnd  above  Concord  bridge  had  increased  to  more 


risms: 


'o   g 


than  four  L.ndrod.  Of  these,  there  were  twentv-hve  minnte- 
men  from  Bedford,  with  Jonathan  Wilson  for  their  captain  • 
others  were  from  Wcstford,  among  them  Thaxter,  a  preacher ;' 
others  from  Littleton,  from  Carlisle,  and  from  Chelmsford, 
ilie  Acton  company  came  last,  and  formed  on  the  right  The 
A^-liole  ^yas  a  gathering  not  so  much  of  officers  and  soldiers  as 
of  brothers  and  equals,  of  -vhom  every  one  was  a  man  well 
known  in  his  village,  observed  in  the  meeting-house  on  Sun- 
days familiar  at  town-meetings,  and  respected  as  a  freeholder 
or  a  fre-.'holder's  son. 

Near  the  base  of  the  hill  Concord  river  flows  languidly  in 
a  winding  channel,  and  was  approached  by  a  causeway  over  the 
wet  ground  of  its  left  bank.  The  by-road  from  the  hill  on 
which  the  Americans  had  rallied  ran  southerly  till  it  met  the 
causeway  at  riglit  angles.  The  Americans  saw  before  them 
within  gunshot,  British  troops  holding,  possession  of  their 
bridge,  and  in  tlic  distance  a  still  larger  number  occupying 
then-  town,  which,  from  the  rising  smoke,  seemed  tc  have  been 
set  on  hre. 

In  Concord  itself,  Pitcairn  had  fretted  and  fumed  with 
oaths  and  cur.es  at  the  tavern-keeper  for  siiutting  against  him 
the  doors  of  the  inn,  and  exulted  over  the  discovery  of  two 
wen-y-four  ].oundeiN  in  tlie  tavern  yard,  as  though  tliey  reim- 
bursed tlie  expedition.     These  were  spiked ;  sixty  barrels  of 
flour  were  broken  in  pieces,  but  so  imj>erfectly  that  afterward 
half  the  flour  was  saved ;  five  hundred  pounds  of  ball  were 
thrown  into  a  mill-pond.     The  liberty-pole  and  several  cnrria,<.es 
for  artillery  were  burned,  ard  the  court-house  took  fire,  though 
the  fire  was  put  out.     Private  dwellings  were  rifled,  but  this 
sbght  waste  of  pui,i;c  stores  -.vas  all  the  advantage  for  which 
(xage  precipitated  a  civil  war. 

The  Americans  had  as  yet  received  only  uncertain  rumors 

t\t  the  sight  of  fire  ic 


of  the  morning's  events  at  Lexington. 


!  1 


:,J1 


I 


AMERICA  ^UUS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  iii.;  en.  x. 

the  village,  the  impuldc  seized  them  "  to  inarch  into  the  town 
for  its  defence."  15ut  were  they  nut  sul)jeets  of  the  British 
king  ?  Had  not  the  troops  come  out  in  obedience  to  acknowl- 
edged anthorities  ?  AVas  resistance  practicable  'i  AVas  it  justi- 
fiable ?  By  whom  could  it  be  authorized  i  No  union  had  been 
formed,  no  indepondenco  proclaimed,  no  war  declared.  The 
husbandmen  and  mechanics  who  then  stood  on  the  hillock  by 
Concord  river  were  called  on  to  act,  and  their  action  would 
be  war  or  peace,  submission  or  independence.  Had  tliey  doubt- 
ed, they  nmst  have  despaired.  Prudent  statesmanship  would 
have  asked  for  time  to  ponder.  AVise  philosophy  would  have 
lost  from  hesitation  the  glory  of  o-iening  a  new  era  on  man- 
kind. The  train-bands  at  Concord  acted,  and  God  was  with 
them. 

"  I  never  heard  from  any  person  the  least  expression  of  a 
wish  for  a  separation,"  Franklin,  not  long  before,  huJ  spid  to 
Chatham.  In  October  1774,  Waslnugton  wrote:  "No  such 
thing  a?  independence  is  desired  by  any  thinking  man  in  Amer- 
ica." ''  Before  the  nineteenth  of  April  1775,"  relates  Jeffer- 
son, "  I  never  heard  a  whisper  of  a  dicijiosition  to  separate  from 
Great  Britain."  Juot  thirty -seven  days  had  passed  since  John 
Adams  published  in  Boston :  "  That  there  are  any  who  pant 
after  independence,  is  the  greatest  slandcn*  on  the  ])rovince." 

The  American  revolution  grew  out  of  the  soul  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  was  an  inevitable  reoidt  of  a  living  affection  for  free- 
dom, which  set  in  motion  harmonious  effort  as  certainly  as  the 
beating  of  the  heart  sends  warmth  and  color  through  the 
system.  The  rustic  heroes  of  tliat  hour  obeyed  tlie  simplest, 
the  highest,  and  the  surest  inntincti,  of  which  the  seminal  prin- 
ciple existed  in  all  their  countrymen.  From  necessity  they 
were  impelled  toward  independence  and  sjlf-di  recti  on  ;  this 
day  revealed  the  plastic  will  which  was  to  attract  the  elements 
of  a  nation  to  a  centre,  and  by  an  innate  fo/cc  tn  ,hape  its  con- 
stitution. 

The  officers,  meeting  in  front  of  'hSw  men,  sp'ke  a  few 
words  with  one  another,  and  went  back  1  >  their  places.  Bar- 
rett, the  colonel,  on  horseback  in  the  rear.,  then  gavi.  the  order 
to  advance,  but  not  t<^  fire  unless  attache  -.  The  'aim  features 
of  Isaac  Davis,  of  Acton,  became  changed ;  the  town  school- 


.k^ 


1775. 


TDE  NINETEENTH  OF  APRIL  1775. 


IGl 

master  of  Concord,  wlio  was  present,  could  never  afterward 
find  words  strong  enough  to  express  liow  deeply  liis  face  red- 
dened at  the  word  of  eoinmand.     "  I  have  not  a  man  that  is 
afraid  to  go,"  said  Davis,  looking  at  tlie  men  of  Acton  ;  and 
di-awing  his  sword,  he  cried :  "  March ! "    His  company,  beino^ 
on  the  right,  led  the  way  toward  the  bridge,  he  himself  at 
their  head,  and  by  his  side  Major  Jolin  Enttrick,  of  Concord 
with  John  Eobinson,  of  AVestford,  lieutenant-colonel  in  Pres- 
cott's  regiment,  but  on  this  day  a  volunteer  without  command 
These  three  men  walked  together  in  front,  foIlowe<l  by  min- 
ute-men and  militia,  in  double  file,  trailing  arms.     Tliev  went 
down  the  hillock,  entered  the  by-roa<],  came  to  its  angle  with 
the  main  road,  and  there  turned  into  the  causeway  that  led 
straight  to  the  bridge.     The  Bntidi  began   to  take  up  the 
planks ;  to  prevent  it,  the  Americans  qr  Ickened  tl  leir  step.    At 
this,  the  British  fired  one  or  two  shots  up  the  river;  then  an- 
other, by  which  Luther    iJlanchard  and  Jonas  Brown  were 
woun  led.     A  volley  followed,  and  Isaac  Davis  and  A bncr  IIos- 
mor  fell  dead.     Tiireo  hours  before,  Davis  had  bid  his  wife 
farewell.     Tluit  afternoon  ho  was  carried  home  and  laid  in  her 
bedroom.    His  countenance  was  pleasant  in  death.    The  bodies 
of  two  others  of  his  company,  who  were  slain  that  day,  were 
brought  to  her  house,  and  the  three  were  followed  to  the  vil- 
lage graveyard  by  a  concourse  of  the  neighbors  from  miles 
around.     Heaven  gave  her  length  of  days  in  the  land  which 
his  self-devotion  assisted  to  redeem.     She   lived  so  see  her 
country  reach  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Pacific;  when  it 
was  grown  great  in  niunbers,  wealth,  and  power,  the  United 
States  in  congrcig  bethought  themselves  to  pay  honors  to  her 
husband's  martyrdom,  and  comfort  her  uiuler  the.  double  bur- 
den of  sorrow  and  of  r-ore  than  ninety  year=. 

As  the  British  fired,  Emerson,  Avho  was  looking  on  from  an 
upper  window  in  his  h  ;.ise  near  the  bridge.  ..-.s  forgone  moment 
uneasy  .est  the  1  ^    .  iionld  not  be  returned.     It  was  only  for  a 
moment;  Biitt.'iclc,  leaping  into  the  air,  and  at  the  same  time 
partially  tun:lng  round,  cried  aloud:  "Fire,  fellow-soldiers  1 
for  God's  sake,  i]r-"  and  tlic  cry,  "fire,  fire,  fire,"  ran  from 
ijp  ro  lip.     Tuo  of  the  British  fell ;  several  were  wounded 
111  two  minutes  all  was  hushed.     The  British  retreated  in  dij^ 
VOL.  IV.— n 


;ii^ 


k 


t     ' 


j  I  i 


162  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP 


order  toward  their  main  body ;  tlio  couutryni-ju  were  left  in 
possesaion  of  the  bridge.  This  is  the  world  renowned  battle 
OF  CoxcoKD ;  more  eventful  than  Agineourt  or  Blenheim. 

The  Americans  stood  astonished  at  what  they  had  done. 
Tliey  made  no  pursuit  and  did  no  further  harm,  excepL  that 
one  wounded  soldier,  attempting  to  rise  as  if  to  escape,  was 
struck  on  the  head  by  a  young  man  with  a  hatchet.     The  party 
at  Barrett's  might  have  been  cut  oil,  but  w;i3  not  molested. 
As  the  Sud1)ury  company,  commanded  by  the  brave  Nixon, 
pai^sed  near  the  Soutli  Bridge,  Josiah  JIayncs,  then  eighty  years 
of  age,  deacon  of  the  Sudbury  church,  urged  an  attack  on  the 
British  party  stationed  there;  his  advico  was  rejected  by  his 
fellow-soldiers  as  premature,  but  the  company  in  which  he 
served  proved  among  the  most  alert  during  the 'rest  of  the  day. 
In  the  town  of  Concord,  Smith,  for  half  an  hour,  showed 
by  marches  and  countermarclies  his  uncertainty  of  jmrpose. 
At  last,  about  noon,  he  left  the  town,  to  retreat  the  way  he 
came,  along  the  hilly  road  that  wound  through  forests  and 
thickets.     The  minute-men  and  militia,  who  had  taken  part  in 
the  fight,  ran  over  the  hills  opposite  the  battle-iield  into  the 
east  quarter  of  the  town,  crossed  the  pasture  known  as  the 
"  Great  Fields,"  and  placed  themselves  in  ambush  a  little  to 
the  eastward  of  the  village,  near  the  junction  of  the  Bedford 
road.     Therr         -  were  re-enforced  by  men  from  all  around, 
and  at  that      'i     -le  chase  of  the  English  began. 

Among  .:  remost  were  the  minute  men  of  Reading,  led 
by  John  Brooks,  and  accomi^anicd  by  Foster,  the  ministOT  of 
Littleton,  as  a  volunteer.  The  com})any  of  Billerica,  whose 
inhabitants,  in  their  just  indignation  at  IS^cobit  and  his  soldiers, 
had  openly  resolved  to  "use  a  diilerent  style  fro-ai  that  of  peti- 
tion and  complaint,"  came  down  from  "tlio  north,  while  the 
East  Sudbury  eonipany  appeared  on  the  soiitli.  A  little  bel'^w 
the  Bedford  road  at  Merriam's  corner  the  British  faced  about ; 
but,  after  a  sharp  encounter,  in  which  several  of  tliem  were 
killed,  they  resumed  their  retreat. 

At  the  high  land  in  Lincoln  the  old  road  bout  toward  the 
north,  just  where  great  trees  on  the  west  nud  thickets  on  the 
east  offered  cover  to  the  pursuers.  The  men  froai  'sV'oburn  came 
ap  in  great  numl)ers,  and  well  ai-med.     Along  these   leliles 


1775.  THE  NINETEENTH   OF  APRIL  1775.  i63 

fell  eight  of  the  British.     Here  Pitcairn  for  safety  was  forced 
to  quit  his  horse,  which  was  taken  with  liis  pistols  in  their  hoi 
Bters      A  httle  farther  on,  Jonatlian  Wilson,  captain  of  the 
Ledford  nnnutc-men,  too  zealous  to  keep  on  his  guard,  was 
killed  by  a  flanking  jxarty.     At  another  defile  in  Lincoln   the 
ininute-men  of  Lexington,  commanded  by  John  Parker  re 
newed  the  fight.     Every  piece  of  wood,  every  rock  by 'the 
wayside,  served  as  a  lurking-place.     Scarce  ten  of  the  Ameri- 
cans were  at  any  time  seen  together;  yet  the  hills  seemed  to 
the  British  to  swarm  with  "rebels,"  as  if  they  had  dropped 
frona  the  clouds,  and  "the  road  was  lined"  by  an  unintermit- 
ted  hre  from  behind  stone  walls  and  trees. 

At  first  the  invaders  moved  in  order;  as  they  di-ew  near 

Lexington,   their    flanking   parties   became    inefl-ective   from 

weariness ;  the  wounded  were  scarce  able  to  get  forward      In 

the  west  of  Lexington,  as  the  British  were  rising  Fiske's  hill 

a  sharp  contest  ensued.     It  was  at  the  eastern  foot  of  the  same 

nil  that  James  Hay  ward,  of  Acton,  encountered  a  regular,  and 

both  at  the  same  moment  fired ;  the  regular  dropped  dead  • 

Ilayward  was  mortally  wounded.     A  little  farther  on  fell  the 

octogenarian,  Josiah  Ilaynes,  who  had  kept  pace  with  the 

swiftest  m  the  pursuit. 

The  British  troops,  "greatly  exhausted  and  fatigued,  and 
having  expended  almost  all  their  ammunition,"  began  to  run 
rathei'  tha.i  retreat  in  order.  The  officers  vainly  attempted  to 
^op  their  fhght  "They  were  driven  before  the  Americans 
hke  sheep."  At  last,  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  after  they 
had  hurned  through  the  middle  of  the  town,  about  a  mile  be- 
ow  the  field  of  the  morning's  bloodshed,  the  officers  made 
their  way  to  tlie  front,  and  by  menaces  of  death  began  to  form 
them  under  a  very  heavy  fire. 

_  At  that  moment  Lord  Percy  came  in  sight  with  the  first 
brigade,  consisting  of  Welsh  fusileers,  the  fourth,  the  forty- 
seventh  and  the  thirty-eighth  regiments,  in  all  about  twelve 
hundred  men,  with  two  field-pieces.  Insolent  as  usual,  they 
marched  out  of  Boston  to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle ;  but 
they  grew  alarmed  at  finding  every  house  on  the  road  de- 
serted. They  met  not  one  person  to  give  them  tidings  of 
the  party  whom  they  were  sent  to  rescue ;  and  now  that  they 


41  . 


u  ;■;  I 


104  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  in. ;  cu.  x. 

had  made  the  juncti.>n,  tliey  could  tliiuk  only  of  tlieir  own 
safety. 

While  the  cannon  kept  the  Americans  at  bay,  Percy  formed 
his  detachment  into  a  square,  enclosing  the  fugitives,  who  lay 
do^yn  for  rest  on  the  ground,  "  their  tongues  hanging  out  of 
their  mouths  like  those  of  dogs  after  a  chase." 

After  the  junction  of  the  fugitives  with  Percy,  the  troops 
under  his  command  amounted  to  fully  two  thirds  of  the  British 
anny  in  Boston;  and  yet  they  must  fly  before  tlic  Americans 
speedily  and  tleetly,  or  be  overwhelmed.    Two  wagons,  sent  out 
to  them  with  supplies,  were  waylaid  and  captured  by  Payson 
the  minister  of  Chelsea.     From  far  and  wide  minute-men  were 
gathering.     The  men  of  Dedham,  even  the  old  men,  received 
their  mmister's  blessing  and  went  forth,  in  such  numbei-s  that 
scarce  one  male  between  sixteen  and  seventy  was  left  at  homo 
JhatmornmgAViinamPrescott  mustered  his  regiment-  and 
though  Pepperell  was  so  remote  that  he  could  not  be  in  season 
for  the  pursuit,  he  hastened  down  with  five  companies  of  guards 
Before  noon  a  messenger  rode  at  fidl  speed  into  Worcester 
crying,  "  To  arms !  "     A  fresh  horse  was  brought,  and  the  tid- 
ings went  on,  while  the  minute-men  of  that  town,  after  joining 
hurriedly  on  the  common  in  a  fervent  prayer  from  their  min- 
ister, kept  on  the  march  till  they  reached  Cambridge. 

Aware  of  his  perilous  position,  Percy,  resting  but  half  an 
hour,  renewed  the  retreat.     The  light  infantry  marched  in 
front,  the  grenadiers  next,  while  tlie  first  brigade,  M'hich  fur- 
nished the  very  strong  flanking  parties,  brought  up  tlic  rear 
They  were  exposed  to  a  fire  on  each  side,  in  fi-ont,  and  from 
behind.     Tlie  Americans,  who  were  good  marksmen,  would 
he  down  concealed  to  load  their  guns  at  one  place,  and  dis- 
cnarge  them  at  another,  running  from  front  to  fiank,  and  from 
flank  to  rear.     Page  and  revenge  and  shame  at  their  iiight  led 
the  regulars  to  plunder  houses  by  the  wayside,  to  deSroy  in 
wantonness  windows  and  furniture,  to  set  lire  to  barns  'and 
houses. 

Beyond  Lexington  the  troops  wore  attacked  by  men  chiefly 
from  Essex  and  the  lower  towns.  The  fire  from  the  rebels 
slackened  till  they  approached  West  Cambridge,  where  Joseph 
Warren  and  ^ViHiam  Heath,  both  of  tlie  coimnittee  of  safety 


1775. 


THE  NINETEENTH  OF  APRIL  1775. 


165 

tlio  latter  a  provincial  pjencral  offiecr,  gave  for  a  moment  some 
appearance  of  organizadon  to  the  pursuit,  and   tlio  li-ht  grew 
sharper  and  more  determined.     Here  the  company  IVom  J)an- 
vers,  which  made  a  breastwork  of  a  pile  of  shingles,  lost  ei-ht 
men,  caught  between  the  enemy's  flank  guard  and  main  body 
Here,  too,  a  musket-ball  grazed  the  hair  of  J<,seph  Warren 
whose  heart  beat  to  arms,  so  that  he  was  ever  in  the  ])lace  of 
greatest  danger.     The  Ih-ltish  became  mor-e  and  more  -  exas- 
perated "  and  indulged  themselves  in  savage  cruelty.     In  one 
house  they  fou.id  t^vo  aged,  helpless,  unarmed  men,  and  butch- 
ered them  both  without  mercy,  stabbing  them,  breaking  their 
skulls,  and  dashing  out  their  brains.     Hannah  Adams,  wife  of 
Deacon  Joseph  Adams,  of  Cambridge,  lay  in  cliild-bed  with  a 
babe  of  a  week  old,  but  was  forced  to  crawl  with  her  infant  in 
her  arms  and  almost  naked  to  a  corn-shed,  while  the  soldiers 
set  her  house  on  fire.     At  Cambridge,  an  idiot,  perched  on  a 
fence  to  gaze  at  the  British  army,  was  wantonly  shot  at  and 
ciJled.     Of  the  Americans,  there  were  never  more  than  four 
hundred  together  at  any  one  time ;  but,  as  some  grew  tired  or 
used   up   their   ammunition,  others   took   their  places;   aud, 
though  there  was  not  much  concert  or  discipline,  and  no  attack 
with  masses,  the  pursuit  never  flagged. 

Eelow  West  Cambridge  the  militia  from  Dorchester  Rox- 
bury,  and  Drookline  came  up.  Of  these,  Isaac  Gardner,  of  the 
latter  place,  one  on  whom  the  colony  rested  many  hopes  fell 
about  a  mile  west  of  Harvard  college.  The  field-pieces  began 
to  lose  their  terror,  so  that  the  Americans  pressed  upon  ^he 
rear  of  the  fugitive^,  whose  retreat  was  as  rapid  as  it  possibly 
could  be.  A  litll.e  after  sunset  the  survivors  escaped  across 
Charlestown  neck. 

The  troops  of  Percy  had  marched  thirty  miles  in  ten  hours  • 
he  party  of  Smith,  in  si::  hours,  had  retreated  twenty  miles 
the  guns  of  the  ships-of-war  and  the  menace  to  burn  the  town 
of  Charlestown  saved  them  from  annoyance  during  their  rest 
on  Lunker  Hill,  and  while  they  were  ferried  acro^ss  Charles 
river. 

On  that  day  forty-nine  Americans  u'ero  killed,  thirtv-four 
wounded,  and  five-  missing.     The  loss  of  the  British  in  idlled 
wounded,  aud  missing,  w.is  two  hmidred  and  seventy-three' 


V 

;  t 


'   i 


I 


m 


Kin  AMKIJKW  AltMM    h'OIi  SKI,K  |)i:|.'KN(!K 


HI".  III.  ;  en.  x. 


Ainoii:^    I  he    Wdimdcd    wcio    i 

Hcvcivly.      Maiiv  mom  wrnt  (li.iMMcd  hy  luii.rii 


iiimy  odiccrH  ;   Smitli   was    Imrt 


All  llic  lollowiiifr  mVJit.  Uiciiini  ol'  Mass:icliiisi«UM  hIivuiiumI 


111    fnim   Hcorcs  of  iriiK 
Tl 


inmiKl,   old  iiicii  as  uril   n.s  voiiiiL'. 

itrcH,  no 


\V(;i'(\ 


ICH 

cx- 


|<\V  had  scarce!  u  HoiiiMaiicc  of  artillery  or  warlike  M 
|>o\V(l(>r,  nor  orM;iiiii/..lion,  nor  provisions;  hnl.  Ilicrc  llicy  ..„ 
Ilioiisands  widi  l.ravc  licarls,  dclcrniinc.l  to  rescue  I  lit;  lihcrl 
"I'  <li«'ii-  coiMilry.  "The  ni^ht  precedinj,^  (he  onlra^^'s  at  I 
iMp,-lon  lliere  were  not  tifty  people  in  the  whole  colony  that 
ever  expected  an.y  Mood  would  he  shed  in  the  contest  ;"  tho 
ni^ht  alYer,  (he  kiiir-'s  p.vernor  and  th<-  IJn-'s  army  'ionnd 
(iienis(>lves  closely  helea.'^iiercd  in  lloslon. 

"The  next  news  froin  I'ji-land  must  l>(>  conciliatory,  or  tlu* 
•'"'uiection  I.etween  lis  i-nds,"  said  Warren.  " 'I'Ids  month," 
so  William  Faiierson  of  (V.nc.rd,  late  chaplain  to  (lie  provin- 
cial C(»noivss,  chronicled  in  a  hiank  leaf  of  his  almanac,  "  is 
remarhahle  for  the  "ivatest  events  of  the  present  a^H'/'  "  j-'rom 
the  nineteenth  of  April  IVT-V  said  Clark,  of  I'^vvinoton,  on 
lis  lirst  anniyersary,  "will  he  dated  (he  liberty  of  (lurAmeri- 
can  world/' 


)      I 


1775. 


Tilt:  (IKNKFtAI,  lUSINc;   OF   AMKIJKJA. 


lOT 


riFAI'TKR   XT. 

KFKKCTH    ()!.•   Till;    DAv    ov    1,1  XINCTOH    AND   CONCORD. 

TiiH  (;i.;ni;kai,  kisi.no. 

An;ii.  .IiNio   ITT."). 

l)Ai;KNi::;:i  clf.s,.,!    ii|)..ii   M„.  n.mifry  and   ui)()ii    Mio   town 
1.1.1,  If  uns  in,  nlol.f,  Cor  ,sl.v|,.      Ilcnilds  I.y  swifl.  irlays  Irans- 
iiiKIrd   ||,(.  war  mrs.a-c    IVom    hand   lo  liaiid,  lill  villa-o  ro 
l)C!ll(«d  it,    (,,  vil!;|.;v-;   ||h,   sea   in  thv   l,ad<  woods  ;    (I,(,    ,,Ii,h,H   t,,, 
tIi('iii,i;ld:Mid;;  and  if,  was  never  Kuirmnl   (.,  ,Iron|.  (ill    i(,  l,ad 
'"■'•"  '""■•"■  ""'■"'  ■•'"<'  '^""(li,  and  (>ast,  and  west,  (l.n.n^-I,„„t  tl.o 
land.      I(,  spn-ad  over  |I„>  ha.ys  (iiaf,  received  the  Saeo  and  the 
ri'nol.se.,t  ::nd  f,:-  M(.  ,I„hn',s.      Its  loud  n^veille  l,ro|<e  tho  rest 
<'f  (ho  (ra|.|K.rs  of   New  Hampshire,  and,  rin-insr  Ijko  hudo- 
iM.tes  from  p.al<  to  pral<,  overleapt  tho  (Jrocn  Mountains,  swept 
onward  to   Montreal,  and  (l(>seended  the  ocean   river,  till  tlio 
responses  were  eeh.K'd    IVoni   tho  cliirs  of  Qi,el,;r.      The  J,i|ls 
aion-  (he  liiid,,,!,  t,.ld  o„o  to  another  tlio  tale.     As  tli(>  sum- 
"lons  hurried  (.,  (Iu,  south,  it  was  one  day  at  New  York  •  in 
ono  moreat  Phihulelphia  ;  (h,.  next  it  li^i,te<I  a  watchliro  at 
''•'H""ore;  (!,..  „.;,  it,  waked  an  answer  at  Annapoli.s.     (.^rcssinff 
n.o  I'otounc  n.ar  Mount  Vernon,  it  was  .sent  forward  without 
a  halt  to  W.IIinn.  !,n.-.     It  traversed  the   Dis.nal  Swamp  to 
Nanseinond  ,.,!„n-  the  route  of  the  tinst  emigrants  to  North 
(  arohna.     I(  nu.ved  onward  and  s(ill  omvard  (liroii-]i  Imund- 
Jos8  toivstsof  pines  to    NowI.ern  and   to  Wilmin-ton.     "For 
(Jod\s  ,sak,>,  lorwar.l  it  I,y  ni.i^dit  and  I,y  day,"  wr<7to  Cornc'lius 
llarnett  l>y  the  exp.v.ss  which  sped  fori:  unswick.     Patriots 
"t  South  Carolina  eaii-ht  up  its  tones  at  li.o  horder,  and  do- 
(^patelied  it   to  Charloston,  and   tlirough    moss-clad  live  oaka 


. 


I  ! 


ins 


AMKiacA  A  [IMS  rolj  HKLFDKFKNOIO 


'■■I'.  III. ;  (Ml.  XI. 


and    |);»lMi('lf,o('s   slill    r;ir(|i,.|-    (,,  || 
inofi-  fhr    N,nv  Kii-liiiMl   scl(|,.mcii(.s   I.cyoii.l    ll 


II'  solid),  I 


it,    I 


'csdi 


IImIi.!!! 


Ilillsl 


lit!    SilViUMIilll. 


»"roiiM|.  ;iii.|  llir   iMr.-M,.iil.iir;r  (lish-irl,  of    North  ( 'an,| 


rose   III   li-iiiiiipli,   ii(,\v  dial,   dicir 


iiia 


i(H  cihl.     T\u'   WUiv    i:i,|M„  (n.,k  up  d 
licanl    r 


wcafiMKiiii!  iiii('(!r(iiiii(y  liiul 


I'  "K!  V I',  and    iiiadi!   it 


Tho  AIK.-I 


'•'""  <";<•  "'I'd   to  die  ()di(>r  of  dio   valley  ui'  V 


ir;i!jiiiia. 


•ain.s  opened   :li,.ir  harriers,  tliat  (lio  -  loud   ('ull 


mi!.dit  pas;  diroi.^di  to  die  hardy  rilleiiie,,  on  tin-  llol  ,(o,i    fl 


Wal 


iii^a,  and  du'  ImvucIi  Hn.ad.      I 


ver  reiiewiiijj'  its  Htreiiirtli, 


coiiimonwvallli,  it  hrojithed 

that 


<  y ;  HO 


!"»"crriil  ei m||  even   to  create  a 

ils  iiispirin.ir  word  to  (lu;  h'rst  sctller.s  of   Keiiliiej, 

Imnters,  who   made  dieir  halt   In   tho  nialclde:.;  valley  of  tlu^ 

.""''';•'■'.''  • ""*'' •"••'•  """  nineleendi  day  of  Ai.ril  hv  iiaiu- 

iiiii^  dieir  I'lieaiiipiiient   |.i:xi\(;ton. 
_  Will,  one  inipnls,.,  die  eol.wiies  spriin-  io  arm/.;  wid,  o,io 

spirit,  (hey  pled;...d  dieins.-Iv.'s  (o  eael,  odier  "  (o  Ix ady  for 

tho  exhvn.e  even!."     Wid,   one   iiearl,   U.u  contliKi  ■    ericd  • 
"Liherty  or  iK'adi." 

_  Th.-  (IrsI  measure  of  di,.  ^rassaehiiselt;  eenm.id,- of  safety 
""*'•■  \'"'  ''^'^^-'^  "'■  ""•  fwriitieth  of  April,  y,-as  a  eireular  (o  (ho 
Heyeral  touns  h,  Massiehnsetts.  MVe  e.iijuro  yo„,"  (hey 
wn)to,  -hy  all  (hat  is  dear,  I,y  all  that  is  saered ;  wo  Iu-t  and 
«'"dva(,as  yo„  will  ans\yer  it  to  your  eonnlry,  to  your  con- 
M-ienees,  and,  ahove  all,  (o  (lo.l  himse!!',  (hat  yon  Nvill  ha,ste.i 
'Hid  eneonra-r  I-y  all  nossIhI,>  means  d,e  onIi:,fmem,  of  men  to 
onn  die  army,  and  send  (hem  forward  (o  hea.!..,,nar(.M-s  at 
(a.nI,r,do-e  wid.  (hat  expedi(ion  wlileh  (ho  vast  Importuneo 
and  ins(an(  iir-viKw  «W  (he  a ll'air  demands.'' 

The  eountry  people  of   .Massaehnset(s'had  not  waite<l  for 
t  .0  call.     As  so.)u  as  (hey  lu.ard  (he  cry  of  blood  (lioy  snatched 
iK'.r  tnvlocks  iVom  the  walls,  and  wives  and  mothe.'v,  and  sif- 
ters took  pa  rf  m  preparino.,lK.  men  of  ('i.Ir  househojd.s  to  go 
toi-th  to  the  war.     The  f.rmers  rushe.l  (o  "  (ho  camp  ,)f  libcM-ty  " 
';"-;"  ^v,(h   nod.inn.  hut  d.e  clod.os  on  dieir  hacks,  widiout'a 
<  ;|.v  _s  provi.u.i.s,  and  many  without  a  fardiinu-  i„  (heir  pockets. 
Iirir  count  vy  was  iu  .lan-er ;  their  h'vth,eu  were  slaim-htered  • 
tlu'.r  arms  alone  employed  their  attention.     On  tlu-ir  Avay,  the 
;"li^>l"lanf.  opened  their  liospitahlo  door.s,  and  all  ih[u<r^  yyovo 
111  common.     Fov  the  lirst  night  of  tlic  siege,  Predcott  of  Pep 


1778. 


THE  GEXKRAL    lUSlSd   of    A.MKf; 


rcA. 


1C9 


p'-i-fll,  with  Ills  Middk 
fiitruiicn  fi»  |J(»s(())i ;  ;in<|,  wliil."  ( 
i'ovtU'y  tlic  (own  ut  all  p.iirits,  tlio  A 
liim  iiiid  his  ro-'inuMits  inf.)  t\ 


ox  iiiimity-mon,  kopt  tli('  v/atdi  over  tlio 
wiis  (Irivoii  for  safety  to 


r,l'j:v. 


luenciiii-;  tallcfd  <.f  d 


/•IVlIliT 


10  soa. 


At  tl 


10 


>f  t\ 


10 


fiairi'j  tiiii;;,  the  nMiiiiiitteu  hy  letter  ^^ive  the  story 


im-eediiiir  ^\ay  to  New   llauip.shue  and  ( 


,  .  ,        •    ,     -  ' ' "  ^  oiinectient, 

wimse  assistance  they  entreated.     ••  We  shall   he  <r|ad  "  they 

wrote,  "that  our  hrethren  who  <-.>n.e  to  our  aid  nmy  i,e  sup- 
phed_  with  nuhrary  stores  and  provisions,  as  we  have  none 
oi  o.ther  more  ihan  is  ul.solnteiy  lu.eessary  for  ourselves." 
And  Without  stores  or  cannon,  or  supplies  even  of  pow- 
(l.T,  or  ol  n.oney,  ^[assa(•husetts,  hy  its  cou^rress,  on  ij.o  twen- 
y-seeond  of  Aprd,  resolved  nnaniniouslv  tliat  a  Kvw  Fn<r. 
J'""  ;'•;".>'  (.f  thirty  thousand  men  shm.ld  he  raised,  ^uPd 
established  its  own  proportion  at  thirteen  tho-isaiul  si^  hun- 
dn!<l.  The  term  of  enlistment  was  lixed  for  the  last  dav  of 
Ueeeinher.  -^ 

L-.n-  heCoix;  this  summons,  the  ferri(«H  over  tlie  Merrimaek 
W(!re  crowded  hy  men  from  New  ifampshire.     ''  We  <ro  "  said 
they,  "to  Iho  assistanee  of  our  brethren/'     l!v  one  oVloek  of 
tlie  twentieth,  upward  of  sixty  men  of  Nottingham  assemhied 
at  the  mectin-house  with  arms  an.l  e,piipments,  nnder  Cilley 
and    )earl..;rn;  before  two,  they  were  joined  by  bands  fro.u 
Drerhe  d  and  Kpsom  ;  and  (hey  set  out  to^rethc-r  for  Cambrid-e. 
At  dusk  (hey  reaehed   Haverhill  ferry,  a  distance  of  twentv- 
scvcn  imles,  having  run  rather  than  marched;  they  halted  in 
Andover  only  for  refreshments,  and,  traversing  iifty-(ive  miles 
m  loss  than  twenty  hours,  by  sunrise  of  the  twenty-ii,-st  paraded 
on  C  ambridge  common. 

The  veteran  John  Stark,  skilled  in  the  ways  of  the  Indian, 

be  1'  nohsh,  and  his  countrymen,  able  to  take  his  rest  on  a 

bear-skm  with  a  bank  of  snow  for  a  yMow,  frank  and  humane, 

occentnc   buf  true,  famed  for  coolness  and   courage  and   iiv 

tegrity,  had  no  rival   in   (he  confidence  <.|-  his  neighbors,  and 

was  chosen  colonel  of  their  regiment  by  their  unanimous  vote. 

He  rode  in  haste  to  the  scene  of  action,  on  the  M.iy  enconragino- 

he  volunteers  to  rendezvous  at  Medlord.     So  many  followed 

l.a,.m  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second,  lie  was  detached 

uitli  three  hundred  to  take  post  at  Chelsea,  where  his  battalion, 


ii 


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iih'ii' 


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?3  WEST  MAIN  f   REET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14380 

(716)  872-4503 


Us 


#: 


170  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xi. 

which  was  one  of  the  fullest  in  the  besieging  army,  became  a 
model  for  its  discipline. 

By  the  twenty-third  there  wore  already  about  two  thousand 
men  from  the  interior  parts  of  Xcw  Hampshire,  desirous  ''not 
to  return  before  the  work  was  done."  Many  who  remained 
near  the  upper  Connecticut  threw  up  the  civil  and  military 
commissions  held  from  the  king;  for,  said  they,  "the  king  has 
forfeited  his  crown,  and  all  commissions  from  him  are  there- 
fore vacated." 

In  Connecticut,  Trumbull,  the  governor,  sent  out  writs 
to  convene  the  legislature  of  t!ie  colony  at  Ilai-^ford  on  the 
Wednesday  following  the  battle.      On  the  morning  of  the 
twentieth,  Israel   Putnam,  of  Pomfret,  in   leather  frock  and 
apron,  was  assisting  hired  men  to  Iniild  a  stone  wall  on  his 
farm,  when  he  heard  tlie  cry  from  Lexington.     Ho  set  off  in- 
stantly to  rouse  the  militia  officers  of  the  nearest  towns.     On 
his  return,  he  found  hundreds  who  had  mustered  and  chosen 
lum  their  leader.     Issuing  orders  for  them  to  follow,  he  pushed 
forward  without  chaiiging  the  check  shirt  he  had  wora  in  the 
field,  and  reached  Cambridge  at  sunrise  the  next  morning, 
havmg  ridden  the  same  horse  a  hundred  miles  within  eighteen 
hours.     He  brought  to  the  sernce  of  his  country  courage,  and 
a  heart  than  which  none  throbbed  more  honestly  or  warmly 
for  American  freedom. 

From  Wethersfield  a  hundred  young  volunteei-s  marched 
for  Boston  on  the  twenty-second,  m'cH  armed  and  in  hio-h 
spirits.  From  the  neighboring  towns  men  of  the  larg^t 
estates,  and  the  most  esteemed  for  character,  seized  their  lire- 
locks  and  followed.  By  the  second  night,  several  thousands 
from  the  colony  were  cm  their  way.  Some  had  fixed  on  their 
standards  and  drums  the  colony  arms,  and  round  it,  in  letters 
of  gold,  the  motto,  that  God  who  brought  over  theii-  fathers 
would  uphold  the  sons. 

In  New  Haven,  Benedict  Arnold,  captain  of  a  volunteer 
company,  agreed  with  his  men  to  march  the  next  morning  for 
Boston.  «  Wait  for  proper  orders,"  was  the  advice  of  Wooster  • 
but  their  self-willed  commander,  brooking  no  delay,  extorted 
supplies  from  the  committee  of  the  town,  and  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  reached  the  American  head-quarters  with  his  company. 


h'gh 


1775.  THE  GENERAL  RISING  OF  AMERICA. 


171 


There  was  scarcely  a  town  in  Connecticut  that  was  not  repre- 
v-ODted  among  tlie  besiegers. 

The  nearest  town?  of  Rhode  Island  wore  in  motion  before 
the  British  had  finished  their  retreat.    At  the  instance  of  Hop- 
kins and  others,  Wanton,  the  governor,  though  himself  inclined 
to  the  royal  side,  called  an  assembly.     Its^members  were  all 
of  one  mind ;  and  when  Wanton,  with  several  of  the  council, 
showed  hesitation,  they  resolved,  if  necessary,  to  proceed  alone! 
Tlie  council  yielded,  and  confirmed  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
assembly  for  raising  an  anny  of  fifteen  hundred  men.     "  The 
colony  of  Rhode  Island,"  wrote  Lowler,  the  speakei-,  to  the 
Massachusetts  congress,  "  is  firm  and  detormined ;  and  a  greater 
unanimity  in  the  lower  house  scarce  ever  prevailed."     Com- 
panies of  the  men  of  Rhode  Island  preceded  this  early  message. 
Massachusetts  gained  confidence  now  that  New  Ilampslfire 
and  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  had  come    to  its  sunport. 
The  New  England  volunteers  were  men  of  substantial  worth,' 
of  Avhom  ahaost  every  one   represented  a  household.      The 
members  of  the  several  companies  were  well  known  to  each 
other,  as  to  brothers,  kirdred,  and  townsmen ;  known  to  the 
old  men  who  remauied  at  home,  and  to  all  the  matrons  and 
maidens.     They  were  sure  to  be  remembered  weekly  in  the 
exercises  of  the  congregations ;  and  morning  and  evening,  in 
the  usual  family  devotions,  they  were  commended  with'^fer- 
vent  piety  to  the  protection  of  heaven.     Every  young  soldier 
lived  and  acted,  as  it  were,  under  the  keen  observation  of  all 
those  among  whom  he  had  gro^^'n  up,  and  was  sure  that  his 
conduct  would  occupy  the  tongues  of  his  village  companions 
while  he  was  in  the  field,  and  be  remembered  his  life  long. 
The  camp  of  liberty  was  a  gathering  in  arms  of  schoolmates,' 
neighbors,  and  friends ;   and  Boston  was  beleaguered  round 
from  Roxbiiry  to  Chelsea  by  an  unorganized,  fluctuating  mass 
of  men,  each  with  his  own  musket  and  his  little  store  of  car- 
tridges, and  such  provisions  as  he  brouglit  witli  him,  or  as 
were  sent  after  him,  or  could  be  contributed  by  the  'people 
round  about.  ^ 

The  British  officers,  from  their  own  weakness  and  from  fear 
of  the  American  marksmen,  dared  not  order  a  sally.  Their  con- 
finement was  the  more  irksome,  for  it  came  of  a  sudden  before 


.Ml 


^1 

1       ^H 

HH   fl 

I'j^l 

AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III.  ;  cu.  II. 


their  magazines  had  been  filled,  and  was  followed  by  "  an  im- 
mediate stop  to  supplies  of  every  kind."     They  had  scoffed  at 
the  Americans  us  cowards  who  would  nm  at  their  sight ;  and 
tl  oy  had  saved  themselves  only  by  the  rapidity  of  dieir  re- 
treat.    Ke-euforcements  and  three  new  geueraf  officers  Avere 
already  on  the  Atlantic,  and  tiiese  would  have  to  be  received 
hito  straitened  quarters  by  a  defeated  army.     England,  and 
even  the  ministers,  would  condemn  the  inglorious  ex])cdition 
which  had  brought  about  so  sudden  and  so  fatal  a  change. 
The  officers  shrunk  from  avowing  their  own  acts  ;  and,  though 
no  one  would  say  that  he  had  seen  the  Americans  fire  first, 
they  tried  to  make  it  pass  current  that  a  handful  of  country' 
men  at  Lexington  had  begun  a  fight  with  a  detachment  that 
outnumbered  them  as  twelve  to  one. 

The  Americiuis,  slowly  provoked  and  long-sufl^ering,  treated 
the  prisoners  with  tenderness,  nursed  the  wounded  as  though 
they  had  been  kinsmen,  and  invited  Gage  to  send  out  Britili 
surgeons  for  their  relief.  Yet  Percy  could  degrade  himself  so 
far  as  to  calumniate  the  country  people  who  gave  him  chase, 
and  officially  lend  himself  to  the  falsehood  that '-'the  rebels 
scalped  and  cut  off  the  ears  of  some  of  the  wounded  who  fell 
into  their  hands."  He  should  have  resi)ectcd  the  name  which 
he  bore ;  and  he  should  have  respected  the  men  before  whom 
he  fied. 

To  the  inhabitants  oi  Boston,  Gage  made  the  offer  that,  if 
they  would  promise  not  to  join  in  an  attack  on  his  troops,  and 
would  lodge  their  arms  with  the  selectmen  at  Faneuil  Hall,  the 
men,  women,  and  children,  with  all  their  effects,  should  have 
safe  conduct  out  of  the  town.  The  proposal  was  accepted.  For 
several  days  the  road  to  Roxbury  was  thronged  with  wagons 
and  trains  of  exiles;  but  they  were  not  allowed  to  take  with 
them  any  food.  The  ])rovincial  congress  deviled  measures  for 
distributing  five  thousand  of  the  poor  among  the  villages  of 
the  interior.  But  the  loyalists  of  Boston,  of  ^vhom  two  hun- 
dred entered  the  king's  service,  soon  prevailed  with  (ia^re  to 
violate  his  word.  '^ 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  April  the  assembly  of  Connecti- 
cut read  the  vote  of  Massachusetts,  that  New  England  should 
bnng  into  the  field  thirty  thousand  men.     On  the  next  day 


1775.  THE  GENERAL  EISIXG  OF  AMERICA.  173 

tliey  dcspatclied  two  envoys  to  Gage  to  plead  for  peace,  vet  to 
assure  Inra  of  their  most  Urm  resolution  to  defend  their  ricdits 
to  the  last  extremity  and  to  aid  their  brethren.  The  mis'^ion 
was  fruitless ;  but  in  the  mean  time  the  populous  colony  made 
ready  to  treat  with  sword  in  hand. 

T  1  ^''^^''  ^"'^"I'^ean  camp  there  was  no  unity.  At  Roxbury, 
John  Thomas  had  commanded,  and  received  encomiums  for 
the  go. ..  order  which  prevailed  in  his  division  ;  but  Ward  the 
general  who  was  at  Cambridge,  had  the  virtues  of  a  ma<ri«lrp^e 
rather  than  of  a  soldier.  lie  was  old,  unused  to  a  separate 
mill  ary  command,  too  inlirm  to  appear  on  horseback,  and 
wanting  in -quick  decision  and  activity."  The  troops  from 
other  colonies,  under  leaders  of  their  own,  did  not  as  yet  fonn 
an  mtegral  part  of  one  "  grand  American  »  array. 

Of  the  Massachusetts  volunteers,  the  number  varied  from 
day  to  day.     Many  of  them  returned  home  almost  as  soon  as 
they  came    for  want  of  provisions  or  clothes,  or  from  the 
pressure  of  affairs  which  they  had  left  so  suddenlv.     Of  those 
who  enlisted  in  the  Massachusetts  army,  a  very  large  number 
absented  themselves  on  furlough.     Ward  feared  that  he  .hould 
bo  left  alone.     Of  artillery,  there  were  no  more  than  six  three- 
pounders  and  one  six-poundei  in  Cambridge,  besides  sixteen 
pieces  m  AVatertown,  of  different  sizes,  some  of  them  -.ood  for 
nothing.     There  was  no  ammunition  but  for  the  six  three- 
pounders,  and  very  little  even  for  them.     After  scouring  five 
principal  counties,  the  whole  amount  of  powder  that  could  be 
lound  was  less  than  sixty-eight  barrels.     The  other  colonies 
were  equally  unprovided.     In  the  colony  of  ^ew  York  there 
were  not  more  than  one  hundred  pounds  of  powder  for  sale 

Notwithstanding  these  obstacles,  the  scheming  genius  of 
New  England  was  m  the  highest  activity.  While  the  expedi- 
tion against  Ticonderoga  was  sanctioned  by  a  commission 
granted  to  Benedict  Arnold,  the  Massachusetts  congress,  which 
was  ^l^en  sjtting  in  Watertown,  received  from  Jonathan  Brew- 
er, 01  Waltham,  a  proposition  to  march  with  a  body  of  five 
hunched  volunteers  to  Quebec,  by  way  of  the  rivers  Kennebec 
and  Chaudiere,  in  order  to  draw  the  governor  of  Canada,  with 
his  roops,  into  that  quarter,  and  thus  secure  the  northern  and 
western  frontiers  from  inroads.     He  was  sure  it  "could  be 


■I- 


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174 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xi. 


Tlie  design  did 


executed  witli  all  the  facility  iinagiuable. 
not  pass  out  of  mind. 

Next  to  the  want  of  military  stores,  the  poverty  of  the 
Massachusetts  treasury,  which  during  the  winter  had  received 
scarcely  five  th.ou^aud  pounds  of  currency  to  meet  all  expenses, 
gave  just  cause  for  apprehension.  For  more  than  twenty 
years  she  had  endeavored  by  legislative  penalties  to  exclude 
the  paper  currency  of  other  provinces,  and  had  issued  no  notes 
of  her  own  but  certificates  of  debt,  in  advance  of  the  revenue. 
These  certificates  v,'cro  for  sums  of  six  pounds  and  upward, 
bearing  interest;  they  had  no  forced  circulation,  and  were 
kept  at  par  by  the  high  condition  of  her  credit  and  her  general 
prosperity.  The  co-oi:>eration  of  neighboring  colonies  com- 
pelled her  congress,  in  May,  to  legahze  the  paper  money  of 
Connecticut  and  Ehode  Island,  and  to  issue  her  own  treasury 
notes.  Of  her  first  emission  of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds, 
there  were  no  notes  under  four  pounds,  and  they  all  preserved 
the  accustomed  form  of  certificates  of  public  debt,  of  which 
the  use  was  not  made  compulsory.  But,  in  less  than  three 
weelvs,  an  emission  of  twenty-six  thousand  pounds  was  author- 
ized for  the  advance  pay  to  the  soldiers ;  and  these  "  soldiers' 
notes,"  of  which  the  smallest  was  for  one  dollar,  were  made  a 
legal  tender  "  in  all  payments  without  discount  or  abatement." 
Ehode  Island  put  out  twenty  thousand  pounds  in  bills,  of 
which  the  largest  was  for  forty  shillings,  the  smallest  for  six- 
l^ence. 

On  the  fifth  of  May  the  provincial  congress  resolved 
"  that  General  Gage  had  disqualified  himseK  for  serving  the 
colony  in  any  capacity ;  that  no  obedience  was  in  future  due 
to  him ;  that  he  ought  to  be  guarded  against  as  an  unnatural 
and  inveterate  enemy."  To  take  up  the  powers  of  civil  gov- 
ernment vras  an  instant  necessity;  but  the  patriots  of  the 
colony  checked  their  eagerness  to  return  to  their  ancient  cus- 
tom of  annually  electing  their  chief  magistrate,  and  resolved 
to  await  "  explicit  advice  "  iium  the  continental  congress. 

New  Hampshire  agreed  to  raise  two  thousand  men,  of 
whom  perhaps  twelve  hundred  reached  the  camp.  Folsom 
was  their  brigadier,  but  John  Stark  was  the  most  trusty  ofiicer. 
Connecticut  offered  six  thousand  men ;  and  about  twenty-three 


s  irt 


1775.  THE  GENERAL  RISING  OF  AMERICA.  175 

hundred  remained  afc  Cambridge,  with  Spenser  as  their  cliief 
and  1  utnam  as  second  brigadier.  ' 

Ehode  Island  voted  fifteen  hundred  men ;  and  probably 
^out  a  thousand   of  them   appeared  round  Boston,   under 
^athaniel  (Jreene.     He  was  one  of  eight  sons,  born  near  the 
^arragansett  bay  in  Warwick.     In  that  quiet  seclusion,  Gor- 
ton and  las  followers,  untaught  of  universities,  had  reasoned 
on  the  highest  questions  of  being.     They  had  held  that  in 
America  Christ  was  coming  to  his  temple;  that  outward  cere- 
monies, baptism  and  the  eucharist,  and  also  kings  and  lords 
bishops  and  chaplains,  were  but  c.nial  ordinances,  sure  to  have 
an  end;  that  humanity  must  constnict  its  church  by  "the 
voice  of  the  Son  of  God,"  the  voice  of  reason  and  love      The 
father  of  Greene,  descended  from  ancestry  of  this  school,  was 
at  once  an  anchor-smith,  a  miller,  a  farmer,  and,  like  Gorton 
a  preacher.^    The  son  excelled  in  diligence  and  in  manly  sports.' 
None  of  his  age  could  wrestle  or  skate  or  run  better  than  he 
or  stand  before  him  as  a  neat  ploughman  and  a  skilful  me- 
clianic. 

Aided  by  intelligent  men  (,f  Iris  own  village  or  of  New- 
port, he  read  Euclid,  and  learned  to  apply  geometry  to  survey- 
ing and  navigation ;  he  studied  Watts's  Logic,  Locke  on  the 
lluman  I  nderstanding,  pored  over  English  versions  of  the 
Lives  of  Plutarch,  the  Commentaries  of  ax^sar,  and  became 
famihar  with  some  of  the  best  English  classics,  especially 
bliakespeare  and  Milton.  "^ 

men  the  stamp  act  was  resisted,  he  and  his  brothers  rallied 
at  the  drum-beat.     Simple  in  his  tastes,  temperate  as  a  Spar- 
tan, and  a  lover  of  order,  he  was  indefatigable  at  study  or  at 
work.     He  married,  and  his  home  became  the  abode  of  peace 
and  hospitality.     His  neighbors  looked  up  to  him  as  an  extraor- 
dinary man,  and  from  1770  he  was  their  representative  in  the 
colonial  legislature.     In  1773,  he  rode  to  Plainfield,  in  Con- 
necticut to  witness  a  grand  military  parade  ;  and  the  spectacle 
was  for  Lim  a  good  commentary  on  Sharp's  Military  Guide 
m  1774,  in  a  coat  and  hat  of  the  Quaker  fashion,  he  was  seen 
watching  the  exercise  and  man^uvres  of  the  British  troops  at 
Boston,  wliere  he  bought  of  Henry  Knox,  a  bookseUer,  treatises 
on  tlie  art  of  war. 


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176  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      kv.  „i,  ;  en.  xi. 

On  the  day  of  Lexington,  Greene,  who  was  then  a  captain, 
started  to  share  in  the  conflict ;  hut,  being  met  by  tidin<^a  of 
the  retreat  of  the  Eritisli,  he  went  back  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
Khodo  Island  legislature.  He  served  as  a  connnisHioncr  to 
concert  military  plans  witli  (,\mneeticut ;  and,  when  in  May 
the  Rhode  Island  brigade  of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  eidisted, 
ho  was  elected  its  general.  None  murmured  at  the  advance^ 
mont,  which  was  due  to  his  ability. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  April,  the  day  after  the  dissolution 
of  the  provincial  congress  of  New  ^'ork,  the  news  from  Lex- 
ington burst  upon, the  city.     Though  it  was  Sunday,  the  in- 
habitants speedily  unloaded  two  sloops  which  lay  at  the  wharfs 
laden  with  flour  and  supplies  for  the  British  at  Boston,  of  the 
value  of  eighty  thousand  pounds.     The  next  day  Dartmouth's 
despatches  arrived  with  Lord  North's  conciliatory  resolve  and 
with  lavish  projnises  of  favor.     But  the  royal  government  lay 
hopelessly  prostrate.     Isaac  Sears  concerted  Avith  John  Lamb 
to  stop  all  vessels  going  to  Quebec,  Newfoundland,  Geor-ia 
or  Boston,  where  British  authority  was  still  supremo.     The 
people  shut  up  the  custom-house,  and  the  merchants  whose 
.    vessels  were  cleared  out  dared  not  let  them  sail. 

In  the  following  days  the  military  stores  of  the  city  of 
New  York  were  secured,  and  volunteer  companies  paraded  in 
the  streets.    Small  cannon  were  hauled  from  the  city  to  Kinoes 
Bridge;  churchmen  as  well  as  Presbyterians  took    up  arms 
As  the  old  committee  of  fifty-one  lagged  behind  the  zeal  of 
the  multitude,  on  the  first  of  May  the  people,  at  the  usual 
places  of  election,  chose  for  the  city  and  county  a  new  general 
committee  of  one  hundred,  who  "resolved  in  the  most  explicit 
manner  to  stand  or  fall  with  the  liberty  of  the  continent."    AH 
parts  of  the  colony  were  summoned  to  send  delegates  to  a  pro- 
\^nclaI  convention,  to  whidi  the  city  and  county  of  New  York 
deputed  one-and-twonty  as  their  representatives. 

Eighty-three  members  of  the  new  general  committee  met 
as  soon  as  they  were  chosen ;  and,  on  the  motion  of  John  Morin 
fecott,  seconded  l)y  Alexander  Macdougall,  an  association  was 
set  on  foot,  engaging,  by  all  the  ties  of  religion,  honor,  and  love 
ot  country,  to  submit  to  committees  and  to  congress,  to  with- 
hold supplies  from  British  troops,  and  at  the  risk  of  lives  and 


1775. 


THE  GENERAL  RISING  OF  AMERICA. 


177 

fortunes  to  repel  every  attempt  at  onforein- taxation  l,v  n,. 
l.ame„t.    Fourteen  ,„eml,e.  of  the  ^W  Y.^k^Zl/'Zl 
of  them  supporter,  of  the  ministry,  entreated  GenemI  oCt 
cease  l,ost,l,t,es  till  fresh  „rde«  eonid  bo  reeeiv^  fr™„^th^ 
hng,  and  espeeially  to  land  no  military  fo^e  in  NewTol 
The  roy,al  conneil  despatched  two  .agents  to  repres^Ito  tt 
m,mstry  how  severely  the  ra.h  eondnet  of  the  amv'    T>^  , 
had  injnred  the  friends  of  the  ki„s,  wl  lie  t  In.  w  V    f" 

don,  and  th  ough  them  the  ,K>ople  of  Great  IJritain : 
inhahtoZoV !-.''"?'  :"''^ri'-™  of  English  freedom,  the 

spoZeitr-  £t;i*Si; "•  ;:tiS%;rti^^*"' 
^vrr^rr:reiTrx\eT;«? 

^™t  state,  exdnding  in  its  natnre'^eve  y  i?:   o°f",:  j  *° 

"SidTis™:2^ti;rrt^^^^^^^ 

:it  :~-s  Will  peU  r^:f„:;^rSeht^t: 

.at  t  Shoeifin;  zz^:':^XTi 

net     Thrr*  '"*"'— '^  '="  «'-gh  L  Xle  Tot 
tment.     J  his  city  is  as  one  man  in  the  cause  of  liberfv     W„ 

It      "otirLTe""-""  ;*■  *"°  -«-«^  eoloS,:  f^m 

chairman  and  ciXlSht  otheJ  „f  ""^ -'^"^  ''^  "'° 

the  first  was  Join,  Jay  *       "'"'  °*  "'°  '=°"""""=».  »*  ''torn 

bells  and  every  demonstration  of  sympathy.  "    *= 

VOL.  IV.— 12 


1 

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1 

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i       ■ 

:  - 

■      !. 

__ 

X      .  i  ,               ! 

.1           ■  ^  I 

'  1;' !.       W 

i 

178 


AMEUICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


On  Monday  tlio  delegation  from  ]\I:i:3;ichusotts,  with  a  part 
of  that  of  .Now  York,  wero  escorted  ucrosj  tho  Hudson  river 
by  two  hundred  of  tho  rniUtia  under  arini,  and  three  hundred 
citizens.  Triuniplial  honorti  awaito'd  tlieiii  ill  Newark  and 
EHzabethtown.  The  governor  of  New  Jer.joy  couhl  not  con- 
ceal his  chagrin  that  (Jage  "  had  rl.;k„'d  conuncncing  lios- 
tilities."  On  tho  Bocond  of  May  the  New  Jer.soy  connnittoo 
of  correspondence  called  a  provincial  congress  for  tho  twenty- 
third  at  Trenton.  To  anticipate  its  inlhiencc,  the  governor 
convened  tlie  regular  assembly  eight  days  curlier  at  Burlington, 
and  laid  before  them  the  project  of  Lord  North.  The  assem- 
bly  could  see  in  the  proposition  no  avenue  to  reconciliation, 
and  declared  their  intention  to  "ahido  by  the  united  voice  of 
the  continental  congress." 

Such,  too,  was  the  spirit  of  Pennsylvania.  "Let  us  not 
have  it  said  of  riuladelphia  that  slio  pawed  noble  resolutions 
and  neglected  them,"  were  the  words  of  MilHin,  youngest  of 
the  orators  who  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April  addressed  the 
town-meeting  called  in  that  city  on  receiving  the  news  from 
Lexington.  Thousands  were  present,  and  agreed  "  to  associate 
for  the  pnrpose  of  defending  with  arms  their  lives,  their  prop- 
erty, and  liberty."  Thomas  Paine  from  that  day  "  rejected 
tho  sullen  Pharaoh  of  tho  British  throne  forever."  Each 
township  in  Berks  county  resolved  to  raise  and  dlsci})line  its 
company.  The  inhabitants  of  AVestmorcland  organized  them- 
selves into  regiments.  Reading  form-d  a  company  of  men 
who  wore  crape  for  a  cockade,  in  token  of  sorrow  for  tlie 
slaughter  of  their  brethren.  In  Philadelphia,  thirty  compa- 
nies, with  iifty  to  one  hundred  in  each,  daily  i)racticcd  tho 
manual  exercise  of  tho  musket.  One  of  them  was  raised  from 
the  Quakers ;  another,  known  as  "  the  Old  Men's,"  consisted 
of  about  fourscore  German  emigrants  who  had  served  in 
Europe. 

The  Pennsylvania  assembly,  which  m-t  on  the  first  day  of 
May,  rejecting  the  overtures  of  the  governor,  "could  form  no 
prospect  of  lasting  advantages  for  Pennsylvania  but  from  a 
commimication  of  rights  and  property  v/ith  the  other  colonies." 
At  a  banquet  the  toast  was  given  :  "  A  speedy  and  happy 
issue  to  the  i^resent  disturbances ; "  to  which  Charles  Lee,  over- 


nn. 


THE  GENERAL  RISING  OF  AMERICA. 


179 

t.o,  m  Groat  Br.tani  m,t  Ir,.|an,l."    ()„  the  tiftl,,  I.',-a„ldi„ 

arnvod  afto,-  a  vo.v„,,„  over  tl,o  »,n„„tl,cst  *,«,  an.    the  box 

nonun;,  wa,  una„i„„.„sly  olootod  a  ,lo,,„tv  to  ti.ocon.ros";  I  „ 

tl.o  dolosation,  to  wl.iol,  Tl.onm,  Willi,  g  and  Janios  WiC 

woro  „d>  0,1    wore  «.ill   inst™otoKl  to  combine,         os,^bl„" 

o,  rc8<  of  KHovanoo,  witi,  "  ,„,io„  and  l,ar,„o„y  botirn  oXt 

tr*un  and  tl.ocolonio."     Wi|.on  wa.  onoof  M,o  flit Ir,™ 

and  wa,  cloctod  captain  of  a  company  of  voluntoor.. 

In  Maryland,  at  tl,c  rcqncrt  of  tl,o  colonck  of  militia,  Edon 
at  Annapol,.,  gave  up  tl.c  arms  and  ammunition  of  tl  o  nrov' 

r"ti'o"  r,d ;;'";'  rT'""  ^"'"■■«"m-j  "^^f  i,y  it.  n.„d- 

,     111  Virginia,  on  tl.o  sooond  of  Ma,.,  at  the  cry  from  Lex- 
.nstoi,  tl,o  unlopendont  company  of  ilanover  .and  itslnn'v 

d ';:";:;  :;'r^"^'"  "'^'""'«'-  "^  i""*™^  "->••  ^zi 

rmi'ors.  '""'»*'"•&  »■■  the  way  greatly  ineroadng  in 

comtnTd  i'7  "'"  ';'"»""'««<>"VD„„more  convened  the 
had  relv   I      "  '"■"''™»."°''  »'  "«'  «''■■<'  Protcnded  that  ho 
liad  lomovod  the  ammunition,  lost  it  should  bo  seized  by  slaves 
Message  .after  n.ossage  eouid  not  arrest  the  ma,-cb  or  e  "^0 

B=r  met  Henry  .at  Now  Kent,  and,  as  a  compensation  for  tbo 

■ri'™ftiS:r  "•"  ,°';''^  ""S"^'""'  p"'"  ■""• «-  ^  - 

c    vemi  a     1^iri;;f '  ti"       ""  ''%™'  '"  ''^™""'  """^ 
the  valu"  of  M,    *"       ,  f  ™  ™  ^°™"J  '"  ■«=  "'ore  tl'»n 

uiret.tocl  tlie  execs  to  bo  paid  back 

Ws-doirfTn"""  ".?""'»' ''"™-'ain  Patrick  Henry"  ani 
mLslvasl?  Ti  "™'  -"-"•>■  "enounced  him'to  the 
"o  yaofive  in  err    ""r."^"; '-'^^^noes,  who  had  boon 

J  ycais  i,ast.      Lnt  Louisa  county,  on  the  eighth,  sent  the 


J'li 


•1 


% 


■M 


180  AMERICA  ATlMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE, 


Ev.  III. ;  on.  xh 


f  i 


insurf^cnts  its  thanks;  on  tlio  niiitli,  SpottHylvaula  approved 
thoir  prudent,  tinn,  and  spirited  conduct;  atid  Orange  county, 
in  a  letter  signed  among  others  by  the  young  and  studious 
Jujne.-i  I\[adison,  a  recent  graduate  of  Princeton  college,  de- 
clared :  "  Tlie  blow  struck  in  Massachusetts  is  a  hostile  attack 
on  this  and  every  other  colony,  and  a  sulHcient  warrant  to  uho 
reprisal." 

On  the  eleventh,  Patrick  Jlcnry  s.'*^  off  for  the  continental 
congress.  Amid  salutes  and  huzzas,  a  volunteer  guard  ac- 
companied him  to  the  Maryland  side  of  fhe  Potomac,  where, 
as  they  said  farewell,  they  invoked  (rod's  blessing  on  tho 
champion  of  their  "dearest  rights  and  liberties." 

In  twelve  or  thirteen  days  tho  message  from  Lexington 
was  borne  to  Newbern,  in  North  Carolina,  whore  it  "  wrought 
a  great  change."  The  governor,  in  his  i)anic,  ordered  the  can- 
non in  the  town  to  bo  dismounted ;  and,  after  a  remonatranco 
rai,de  in  the  name  of  the  inhabitants  by  Abncr  Nash,  "the 
oracle  of  their  committee  and  a  principal  promoter  of  sedi- 
tion," ho  shipped  his  wife  to  New  York,  and  lied  to  Fort 
Johnston,  where  a  8loo|>of-war  had  its  station. 

In  South  Carolina,  Charles  PInckney,  on  learning  tho  in- 
flexibility of  parliament  using  power  intrusted  to  him  by  the 
provincial  congress,  appointed  a  committee  of  live  to  place  tho 
colony  in  a  state  of  defence  ;  on  the  twenty-lirst  of  April,  tho 
very  night  after  their  organization,  men  of  Charleston,  without 
disguise,  under  their  direction,  seized  all  tho  powder  in  tho 
public  magazines,  and  removed  eight  hundred  stand  of  anns 
and  other  military  stores  from  the  royal  arsenal.     The  tidings 
from  Lexington  induced  tho  general  committee  to  hasten  tho 
meeting  of  tho  provincial  congress,  whose  members,  on  tho 
second  of  Juno,  Henry  Laurens  being  their  president,  associ- 
ated themselves  for  defence  against  every  foe  ;  "  ready  to  sac- 
rifice  their   lives   and   fortunes   to  secure   her  freedom   and 
safety."     They  resolved  to  raise  two  regiments  of  infantry 
and  a  regiment  of  rangers.     To  this  end,  one  hundred  and 
forty  thousand  pounds  sterling  were  issued  in  bills  of  credit, 
which  for  a  year  and  a  half  did  not  fall  in  value.     "  Wo  are 
ready  to  give  freely  half  or  the  whole  of  our  estates  for  tho 
security  of  our  liberties,"  was  the  universal  lano-uao-e. 


177fl.  THE  GENERAL  RISING   OF  AMERICA.  ^81 

Tho  n.ilUla  offlnora  tlirow  .4,  tl.oir  commissions  from  tho 
royal  p.vornor,  aiul  sul.mittod  to  the  orders  of  con.rres8      A 
council  of  Kufoty  uus  charfrod  with  oxeeutivo  powers.     In  tho 
Tnidst  ot  tlies.  proceedhigs  Lord  William  (Jamphell,  their  new 
governo|^  arrived  and  tho  provincial  congress  thnn  addressed 
him:     IV o  hist  of  uuiepondence  has  had  the  least  influenco 
npon  our  cnn„.e!s;  „o  subjects  more  sincerely  desiro  to  testify 
their  l,,yalty  and  alfection.     Wo  deplore  the  measures,  whick 
It  persisted  in  nuist  rend  tlie  Uritish  .-mpire.     Trusting  the 
event  to  I  rovidenco,  we  prefer  dL<ath  to  slavery."     "  The  r.co 
pie  of  Charleston  are  as  mad  as  they  are  hero  in  Uoston."  was 
the  tesiunony  of  Gage. 

The  skinnish  at  Lexington  became  Icnown  in  Savannah  on 
he  tenth  of  May,  and  added  (Jeorgia  to  the  nuon.     At  that 
time  she  had  about,  seventeen  thousand  white  i./.abitants  and 
fifteen  thousand  Africans.     Her  militia  wa^  not  les.  than  tln-oo 
thousand.     I  er  frontier,  which  extended  from  Augusta  to  St. 
Mary  s,  was  threatened  by  tho  Creeks,  with  four  thrusand  war- 
riora;  the  Chickasas,  with  four  hundred  and  fifty;  the  Chcro- 
kees,  with  tluec  thousand;  the  Choctas,  with  twenty-five  hun- 
drcd.  _  But  danger  could  not  make  her  peopl.  hesitate.     On 
the  night  of  the  eleventh,  Noble  Wimberley  Jones,  Joseph 
TLabersham,  Edward  Telfair,  and  other.,  broke  open  the  kini's 
ma-azine  in  the  eastern  part  of  tho  city,  and  took  from  it  ove- 
hve  hundred  pounds  of  powder.     To  the  Boston  wanderers 
hey  sent  sixty -three  barrels  of  rice  and   one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  pounds  in  specie;  and  they  kept  the  king's  birth- 
day by  raismg  a  liberty-pole.     "A  general  rebellion  thron^h- 
out  America  is  coming  on  suddenly  and  swiftly,"  reported  Sir 
Jan^,  9  Wright,  tho  governor;  "matters  mil  go  to  the  ntmost 
extremity." 

_  The  great  deed,  which  in  the  mean  time  was  achieved  in 
the  North,  was  planned  in  Connecticut,  and  executed  at  her 
cost.  J  arsons,  of  that  colony,  on  his  way  to  Hartford,  crossing 
Arnold,  who  was  bound  for  Massachusetts,  obtained  of  him  an 
account  of  the  state  cf  Ticonderoga,  and  tho  great  number  of 
Its  brass  cannon.  At  Hartford,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  April 
.arsons,  taking  as  his  advisers  Samuel  Wyllys and  Silas  Deane! 
with  .he  assistance  of  three  others  projected  the  capture  of  the' 


.'1 


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182 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  HI. ;  cii.  XI 


fort;  and,  without  formally  consulting  the  assembly  or  the 
governor  and  council,  they,  on  their  own  receipts,  obtained 
money  from  the  public  trciisury,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  sent 
forward  Xoah  Phelps  and  Bernard  Eomans      Tiie  ne-t  day 
Captain  Edward  Mott,  of  Preston,  chairman  of  the  Connecti- 
cut committee,  followed  witli  five  associates.    Ethan  Allen  was 
encouraged  by  an  express  messenger  to  raise  men  chiefly  in  the 
New  Hampshire  Grants.     On  the  morning  of  the  first  of  :May 
the  party,  which  had  grown  to  the  number  of  sixteen,  left  Salis- 
bury.    At  Pittsfield,  L\  jMasGacnusotts,  the  Connecticut  party 
were  joined  by  John  Brown,  the  young  lawyer  of  that  village, 
by  Colonel  Jamus  Eastoii,  and  by  volunteers  from  Berkshire. 
At  Bennington  they  found  Ethan  Allen,  who  sent  the  alarm 
through  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Vermont ;  and  on  Sunday,  the 
seventh  of  May,  about  one  hundred  Green  Mountain  Boys  and 
near  fifty  soldiers  fro-  i  Massachusetts,  under  the  co.nmand  of 
Ec.ston,  rallied  at  Castleton.     Just  then  arrived  Arnold,  with 
only  one  attendant.     He  brought  a  counnission  from  the  Mas- 
sachusetts committee  of  safety,   which  was  disregarded;  and 
the  men  unanimously  elected  Ethan  Allen  their  chief. 

On^  the  ninth  the  party  arrived  at  Orwell.  With  the  ut- 
most difficulty,  a  few  boats  were  brought  together ;  and  eighty^ 
three  men,  crossing  the  lake  with  Allen,  landed  near  Ticon- 
deroga.  The  boats  were  sent  back  for  Seth  \Varner  and  tho 
rear-guard ,  but,  if  they  were  to  be  waited  for,  there  could  be 
no  surprise.  The  men  were  therefore  at  once  drawn  up  in 
three  ranks ;  and,  as  the  iirst  beams  of  morning  broLo  upon 
the  mountain  peaks,  Allen  addressed  them :  "  Friends  and  fel- 
low-soldiers, we  must  this  morning  quit  our  pretensions  to 
valor,  or  possess  ourselves  of  this  fortrcs.^ ;  and,  inasnnich  as  it 
is  a  dcsperat..  attempt,  I  do  not  urge  it  on,  contrary  to  will. 
You  that  will  undertake  voluntarily,  poise  your  firelock." 

At  the  word,  every  firelock  wag  poisL'd.  "Face  to  the 
right!"  cried  Allen;  and,  placing  himself  at  tlio  head  of  the 
centre  iile,  Arnold  keeping  emulously  at  his  side,  ho  marched 
to  the  gate.  It  was  shut,  but  the  wicket  ,vas  open.  The  sentry 
snapped  a  fusil  at  him.  TJie  Americans  rushed  into  the  fort, 
darted  upon  the  gua'-ds,  and,  raising  the  Indian  war-whoop, 
such  as  had  not  been  heard  there  since  tlin  days  of  Montcalnis 


1775.  THE  GENERAL  TJSIXG  OF  AMERICA.  I83 

formed  on  tlio  parade  in  liollow  square,  to  faee  eaeli  of  the  bar- 
racks.      One  of  tliu  sentries,  after  wouiidinrr  an  officer,  and 
being  sliglitly  wounded  Jiiraself,  cried  out  >or  quarter'  and 
showed  the  way  to  the  apartment  of  the  commander.     «  Come 
forth  instantly,  oi- 1  will  sacrilico  the  whole  garrison,"  cried 
Ethan  AH(;n  as  lu  readied  the  door.     At  this,  Delaplace,  the 
commander,  crme  out  undressed,  with  his  breeches  in  liis  hand 
"Deliver  to  me  the  fort  instantly,"  said  Allen.     ^^ By  what 
authority  ? "  a3k3d  De^.aplace.     *'  In  the  name  of  the  great  Je- 
hovah, and  the  continental  congress !  "  answered  Allen.    Dela- 
place began  to  speak  again,  but  was  peremptorily  interrupted  • 
and,  at  sight  of  Allen's  dra^vn  sword  near  his  head,  he  o-ave  up 
the  garrison,  ordering  his  men  to  be  paraded  without  arms. 
Thus  Ticonderoga,  which  cost  the  British  nation  eight  millions 
sterling,  a  succession  of  campaigns,  and  many  livosrwas  won  in 
ten  minute-j  by  a  few  undisciplined  volunteers,  without  the 
loss  of  life  or  limb. 

The  Amcrieanf3  took  with  the  fortress  nearly  fifty  prisoners, 
who,  as  of  right,  wore  sent  to  Connecticut;  and  they  gained 
one  thirteon-Iuch  mortar,  more  than  a  hundred  pieces  of  can- 
non, swivcb,  GtDrei,  and  small  arms.  To  a  detachment  under 
Seth  Warner,  Crown  Point,  with  its  garrison  of  twelve  men 
sniTendercd  upon  the  first  summons.  Another  party  succeeded 
in  making  a  prisoner  of  Skene,  a  dangerous  British  agent ;  and 
in  getting  possession  of  Skeuesborough,  now  knownlis  White- 
hall. 

John  Brown,  of  Pitt^field,  was  charged  to  carry  to  the  con- 
tmental  :  ongre33  t!i3  account  of  the  great  acquisition  which 
inaugurated  the  day  of  its  assembling.  Meantime,  until  its 
advjcc  could  be  known,  the  legislature  of  xMassachusetts,  con- 
sidering that  the  expedition  began  in  Connecticut,  requested 
the  legislature  of  tliat  colony  to  take  the  conquest  under  their 
sole  direction  and  care. 

The  movement  G::tcnd£d  itself  eastward  to  the  borders  of 
^cw  England.  The  Canceaux,  a  king's  ship,  Uv  at  anchor 
in  1  ortland  harbor;  on  the  elevonih  of  May  a  partv  of  sixty 
men  from  Georgetown,  too  feeble  to  take  the  ves;el,  seized 
^lowat.  Its  captain,  and  two  of  his  officers,  who  chancod  to  be 
with  him  on  shore.     The  ofilccr  left  in  command  of  the  sliip 


if  i 


>  -   u 


h 


1  • 

i 

f  rj'f      r 


L84:  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  m. ;  ch.  xi. 

threatened  and  even  began  a  bombardment  of  the  town.  At  a 
late  hour  JVIowat  was  released  for  the  night.  The  desire  for 
revenge  rankled  in  his  veins,  and  infected  the  admiral  of  the 
station. 

To  the  harbor  of  Machias  a  king's  cutter,  the  Margaretta, 
convoyed  two  sloops,  to  be  freighted  with  lumber  for  tlie  army 
at  Boston.     On  Sunday,  the  eleventh  of  June,  the  patriots  of 
the  town,  aided  by  volunteers  from  Mispecka  and  Pleasant 
Kiver,  seized  the  captain  of  the  sloops  "in  the  meeting-house," 
and  afterward  got  possession  of  his  vessels.     The  M^rgaretta 
did  not  fire  on  the  town,  but  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  fell 
down  the  harbor,  and  the  next  morning  proceeded  on  her  voy- 
age.    She  wtis  pursued  by  Captain  Jeremiah  O'Brien  and  forty 
men  in  one  of  the  captured  sloops,  and  by  twenty  others  from 
Machias  m  a  schooner;  and,  being  a  dull  sailer,  she  was  soon 
overtaken.     An  obstinate  eea-iight  took  place;  the  captain  of 
the  cutter  was  mortally  wounded  and  six  of  his  men  were  hurt 
when,  after  an  hour's  resistance,  the  British  flag  was  struck,  for 
the  first  time  on  the  ocean,  to  Americans. 

The  extension  of  hostilities  to  the  sea  had,  on  the  seventh 
of  June,  been  discussed  in  the  congress  of  Massachusetts;  but 
It  was  difficult  for  the  colony  to  conceive  itself  in  a  state  of 
war  with  Great  Britain.  "A  war  has  begun,"  wrote  Joseph 
Warren,  from  the  Massachusetts  congress ;  "  but  I  hope  Brit- 
ain, after  a  full  conviction  both  of  our  ability  and  resolution  to 
maintain  our  right,  will  act  with  wisdom;  this  I  most  heartily 
wish,  as  I  feel  a  warm  affection  still  for  the  parent  state." 


:.f 


I 


1775.     THE  REVOLUTIOJf  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE. 


185 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  AMERICAN   KEVOLUTION   EMANATES   FKOM  THE  PEOPLE. 

May-July  1775. 

The  Massachusetts  congress,  by  a  swift  ship,  sent  to  England 
a  calm  and  accurate  statement  of  the  events  of  the  nineteenth 
ot  April,  fortihed  by  depositions,  with  a  charge  to  Arthur  Lee 
their  agent,  to  give  it  the  widest  circulation.     Tli'^se  were 
their  Avords  to  the  inhabitants  of  Britain :  "Brethren,  we  pro- 
fess  to  be  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects,  and,  so  hardly  dealt  4h 
as  we  have  been,  are  still  ready,  with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to 
defend  the  person,  family,  crown,  and  dignity  of  our  royal 
sovereign.  _  JS^evertheless,  to  the  persecution  and  tyranny  of 
his  cruel  ministry  we  will  not  submit ;  appealing  to  heaven  for 
tlie  justice  of  our  cause,  we  determine  to  die  or  be  free  " 
_      The  news  from  Lexington  and  Concord  surprised  London 
m  the  last  Uays  of  May.     The  people  of  England  were  sad- 
dened at  the  conflict,  which  they  had  been  told  never  would 
come ;  and  were  iijesolute  between  national  pride  and  s^mipathy 
with  he  struggle  for  English  liberties.   "  I'he  effects  o/Ceneral 
Gage  s  attempt  at  Concord  are  fatal,"  said  Dartmouth :  -  the 
happy  moment  of  advantage  is  lost."     The  condemnation  of 
Cage  was  universal.     Hutchinson,  the  chief  misleader  of  the 
government,  vainly  strove  to  hide  his  dejection.     He  ceasp^i 
to  bo  consulted  and  sunk  into  insignificance. 

The  French  legation  in  London  took  notice  that  the  resist- 
ance of  the  nmeteenth  of  April  was  made  with  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  the  king's  answer  to  the  address  of  the  two  houses 
of  parliament,  pledging  lives  and  fortunes  for  the  reduction 
01  America.     -  The  Americans,"  wrote  Gamier  to  Yero-ennes 


!  :'     i 


I  i 

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1 

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1S6  AMLPJCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  on.  xii. 


IN'; 


i    i 


Vi- 


"  display  in  their  conduct,  and  oven  in  tliinr  errors,  more 
tlioiiglit  than  enthusiasm  ;  thoy  have  shown  in  succession  that 
they  know  how  to  argue,  to  negotiate,  and  to  figlit." 

Many  people  in  England  were  from  that  moment  convinced 
that  the  Americans  could  not  be  reduced,  and  that  England 
must  concede  their  independence.  The  British  forco,  if  drawn 
together,  could  hold  but  a  few  insulated  points  ;  ^f  distributed, 
would  be  Continually  harassed  and  destroyed  in  detail. 

An  inhabitant  of  London,  after  reading  morning  prayers 
in  his  family  as  usual,  closed  the  book  with  a  face  of  grief,  and 
to  his  children,  of  whom  Samuel  Rogers  the  poet  was  one,  told 
the  sad  tale  "of  the  murder  of  their  American  brethren." 

The  recorder  of  London  put  on  a  full  suit  of  mourning, 
and,  being  asked  if  he  hiid  lout  a  relative,  answered ;  "  Yes, 
many  brothers  at  Lexdngton  and  Concord."' 

Granville  Sharp,  who  held  a  lucrative  place  in  the  ordnance 
department,  declined  to  take  part  in  sending  stores  to  America, 
and  after  some  delay  threw  up  his  office. 

Carleton  at  Quebec  was  attended  as  an  aide-de-camp  by 
Chatham's  eldest  son.  But  it  was  impos?ible  for  the  oll'spring 
of  the  elder  Pitt  to  draw  hh  Gword  against  the  Americans ; 
and  his  resignation  was  oifercd  as  soon  as  it  could  be  done 
without  a  wound  to  his  character  as  a  soldier.  Meantime, 
Carleton  had  sent  him  homo  as  a  bearer  of  despatches. 

Admiral  Kcppel,  one  of  the  mo^t  popnlar  officers  in  the 
British  navy,  was  ready  to  serve  against  the  ancient  enemies 
of  England,  but  asked  not  to  be  employed  in  America.  Of 
the  same  mind  v.-as  John  Cartwright,  aftervrard  so  -widely 
known  as  a  pure  in   ,  consistent  political  refonner. 

Ten  days  before  the  news  arrived.  Lord  Effingham,  finding 
that  his  re'i:iment  was  intended  for  America,  renounced  the 
profession  which  he  loved,  as  the  only  means  of  escaping  the 
obligation  of  lighting  against  the  cause  of  freedom.  For 
this  resignation  the  Common  Hall  of  London  thanked  him 
publicly  as  "  a  true  Englishniiui ; "  and  the  guild  of  mer- 
chants in  Dublin  addressed  him  in  the  strongest  words  of  ap- 
probation. 

The  society  for  constitutional  infonnation,  after  a  special 
meeting  on  the  seventh  of  June,  raised  a  hundred  pounds,  "  to 


; .  ! 


1775.     THE  REVOLUTION  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.      187 

bo  applied,"  said  tlicy,  "to  the  relief  of  the  widows,  orj^luins, 

and  aged  parents  of   our  beloved  ATiierican   fellow-subjects^ 

who,  faithful  to  the  character  of  Englishuion,  prefcn-rug  death' 

to  slavery,  were,  for  that  reason  only,  inhumanly  murdered  by 

the  king's  troops  at  Lexington  and  Concord."     Other  sums 

were  added ;  and  an  account  of  what  had  been  done  was  laid 

before  the  world  by  Ilorno  Tooke  in  the  "  Public  Advertiser." 

For  this  publicatio]i,  three  printers  were  fined  one  hundred 

pounds  each  ;  and  llorno  was  pursued  unrcL'ntingly  by  Thur- 

low,  till  in  a  lator  year  he  was  convicted  before  Lot'd  Mansfield 

of  a   libel,  fined   two  hundred  ])ounds,  and  imprisoned  for 

twelve  months.     Thurlow  even  asked  the  judge  to  punish  him 

with  the  pillory. 

John  Wesley  thought  that  silence  on  his  part  would  be  a 
sin  against  God,  his  country,  and  his  own  soul ;  and,  waiting 
but  one  day,  ho  wrote  severally  to  Dartmouth  and  to  Lord 
North  :  "  I  am  a  high  churchman,  the  son  of  a  high  church- 
man, bred  up  from  my  childhood  in  the  highest  notions  of 
passive  obedience  and  non-resistance ;  and  yet,  in  spite  of  all 
my  long-rooted  prejudices,  I  cannot  avoid  thinking  these,  an 
oppressed  people,  asked  for  notliing  more  than  their  loo-al 
riglits,  and  that  in  the  most  modest  and  iuoiTcnsivo  manner 
that  cho  nature  of  the  thing  would  allow.     Eut  waiving  this, 
I  ^ask  :  Is  it  common  sense  to  use  force  tovrard  the  Americans  ? 
Whatever  has  been  affirmed,  these  men  will  not  be  frightened 
and  they  will  not  be  conquered  easily.     Some  of  our  valiant 
officers  say :  '  Two  thousand  men  will  clear  America  of  these 
rebels.'    Xo :  nor  twenty  thousand,  bo  they  rcbolo  or  not,  nor 
perhaps  treble  that  number.     They  are  strong;  they  are  val- 
iant ;  they  are  one  and  all  enthusiasts  ;  enthusiasts  for  liberty ; 
calm,  deliberate  enthusiasts.     In  a  short  time  they  will  under- 
stand discipline  as  well  as  their  assailant^. 

"  But  you  are  informed,  '  they  are  divided  among  them- 
selves.' So  was  poor  Rchoboam  informed  concerning  the  ten 
tribes ;  so  was  Philip  informed  concerning  the  people  of  the 
Netherlands.  No :  they  are  terribly  united ;  they  think  they 
are  contending  for  their  wives,  children,  and  liberty.  Their 
supplies  are  at  hand ;  ours  are  three  thousand  miles  ofl'.  Are 
wo  able  to  conquer  the  Americans,  suppose  they  are  left  to 


M  ir 


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188  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ei' 


in. ;  on.  xii. 


themselves  ?    "We  are  not  sure  of  this ;  nor  are  we  sure  that  all 
our  neighbors  will  stand  stock-still." 

On  ttie  twenty-fourth  the  citizens  of  London  desired  the 
king  to  consider  the  situation  of  the  English  people,  "  who  had 
nothing  to  expect  from  America  but  gazettes  of  blood,  and 
mutual  lists  of  their  slaughtered  fellow-subjects  ;  "  and  again 
thej  prayed  for  the  dissohition  of  parliament,  and  a  dismission 
foiever  of  the  ])resent  ministers.     As  he  refused  to  receive 
this  address  on  the  throne,  it  was  never  presented ;  but  it  Avas 
entered  in  the  book::;  of  the  city  and  published  under  its  au- 
thority.    The  request  was  timely;  there  Avas  no  ';hance  for 
peace  except  the  ministers  should  retire,  and  leave  Chatham  to 
be  installed  as  conciliator;  but  the  stubborn  king,  whatever 
might  happen,  was  resolved  not   to  change  his  government. 
There  existed  no  settled  plan,  no  reasonable  project ;  the  con- 
duct of  the  administration  hardly  looked  beyond  the  day ;  and 
every  question  of  foreign  policy  was,  for  the  moment,  made 
subordinate    to  that  of  the  reduction   of  the   rebels.      The 
enforcement  of  the  treaty  of  Paris  respecting  Dunkirk  was 
treated  as  a  small  matter.     The  complaints  of  France  for  the 
wrcngs  her  lishermen  had  suffered,  and  the  curtailment  of  her 
boundary  in  the  fisheries  of  Newfoundland,  were  uttered  with 
vehemence,  received  with  suavity,  and  recognised  as  valid. 

On  the  evening  of  the  fourteenth  the  cabinet  ministers 
assembled  in  very  bad  humor.  Some  of  Lord  North's  col- 
leagues threw  all  the  blame  on  his  too  great  lenity ;  one  and 
another  said :  "  There  is  no  receding."  The  most  active  per- 
son at  the  meeting  was  Sandwich,  who  had  been  specially  sxnn- 
moned  ;  a  man  of  talents,  greedy  alike  of  glory  and  of  money, 
unfit  to  lead,  madly  bent  on  coercion. 

At  the  Korth,  the  king  "  relied  upon  the  attachment  of  his 
faithful  allies,  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians."  The  order  to  en- 
gage them  Wets  sent  in  his  name  directly  to  the  Indian  agent, 
Guy  Johnson,  whose  functions  were  made  independent  of  the 
too  scrupulous  Carleton.  "  Lose  no  time,"  it  was  said ;  "  induce 
them  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  his  majesty's  rebellious 
subjects  in  America.  It  is  a  service  of  very  great  importance  ; 
fail  not  to  exert  every  effort  that  may  tend  to  accomplish  it ;  use 
the  utmost  diligence  and  activity."     It  was  the  opinion  at  court 


1775.    THE  REVOLUTION  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.      ISO 

that  "  tlie  next  word  from  Boston  would  be  of  some  lively  ac- 
tion, for  General  Gage  would  wish  to  make  sure  of  his  revenge." 
The  sympathy  for  America  reached  the  king  s  own  brother, 
the  weak  but  amiable  duke  of  Gloucester.     In  July  he  crossed 
the  channel,  witli  tlie  view  to  inspect  the  citadela  along  the 
eastern  frontier  of  Franco.     When  he  left  Dover,  nothing  had 
been  heard  from  America  later  than  the  retreat  of  the  British 
from  Concord,  and  the  surprise  at  Ticonderoga.      Metz,  the 
strongest  place  on  tlie  east  of  France,  was  a  particular  object 
of  his  journey  ;  and,  as  his  tour  was  made  with  the  sanction  of 
Louis  XVI.,  he  was  received  there  by  tlie  Count  de  Broglie  as 
the  guest  of  the  king.     Among  the  visitors  on  the  occasion 
came  a  young  man  not  yet  eigliteen,  whom  Do  Broglie  loved 
with  parental  tenderness,  Gilbert  Motier  de  la  Fayette.     His 
father  had  fallen  in  his  twenty-fifth  year,  in  the  battle  of  Min- 
den,  leaving  his  only  child  less  than  two  years  old.     The  boyish 
dreams  of  the  orphan  had  been  of  glory  and  of  liberty ;  at  the 
college  in  Paris,  at  the  academy  of  Versailles,  no  studies  charmed 
him  like  tales  of  republics ;  though  rich  by  inlicritancL's  and 
married  at  sixteen,  he  was  haunted  by  a  passion  for  roving  the 
world  as  an  adventurer  to  strike  a  blow  for  fame  and  freedom. 
A  guest  at  the  banquet  in  honor  of  the  duive  of  Gloucester,  he 
listened  with  avidity  to  an  authentic  vei-sion  of  the  upricing  of 
the  New  England  husbandmen.     Eeality  had  now  brought  be- 
fore him  something  more  wonderful  than  his  brightest  visions ; 
the  youthful  nation,  insurgent  against  oppression  and  figliting 
for  the  right  to  govern  itself,  took  possession  of  his  imagina- 
tion, and  before  he  left  the  table  the  men  of  Lexington  and 
Concord  had  won  for  America  a  volunteer  in  Lafayette. 

In  Paris,  wits,  i^hilosophers,  and  colfee-house  politicians 
were  all  to  a  man  warm  Americans,  considering  them  as  a 
brave  people,  stniggling  for  natural  rights,  and  endeavoring  to 
rescue  those  rights  from  M-anton  violence ;  and  that,  having  no 
representatives  in  pariiament,  they  could  owe  no  obedience 
to  British  laws.  This  argument  they  turned  in  all  it3  different 
shapes,  and  fashioned  into  general  theories. 

From  the  busy  correspondence  with  the  French  embassy 
at  London,  Vergennes  saw  clearly  the  delusion  of  the  British 
ministry  in  persuading  themselves  that  the  Americans  would 


1  : 

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190  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III.  :    C,"..  X!I. 


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Kooii  tire ;  ov  that  tlioir  wiporiorltjon  tlio  ocean  was  Giifficicnt  to 
reduce  colonies,  which  could  so  well  provide  within  themselves 
for  their  wants.     rr;vnklin,  who  took  with  him  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  resources  of  Great  Britain  and  was  known  to 
be  more  zealous  than  ever,  enjoyed  at  \'en^aille.s  the  reputation 
of  being  endowed  with  the  qualities  that  iitted  him  to  create  a 
flee  nation,  and  become  the  nuwt  celebrated  among  men.     Yet 
Vergennes  wrote  with  forecast :  "  The  spirit  of  revolt,  wherever 
it  breaks  out,  is  always  a  troublesome  example.     Moi'al  mala- 
dies, as  well  as  those  of  the  i)hysical  system,  can  become  con- 
tagious.    We  must  bo  on  our  guard,  that  the  independence 
which  produces  so  terrible  an  explosion  in  North  America  may 
not  connnunicute  itself  to  points  that  interest  us.     We  long 
ago  made  up  our  own  mind  to  the  results  Avhicli  are  now  ob- 
served ;  we  saw  with  regret  that  the  crisis  was  drawing  near ; 
Avo  have  a  presentiment  that  it  may  be  followed  by  more  ex- 
tensive conse(]uonces.     AVe  do  not  disguise  from  ourselves  the 
aberrations  which  enthusiasm  can  encourage,  and  which  fanati- 
cism can  ell'cctuate." 

Louis  XVI.  was  persuaded  to  send  an  emissary  to  America 
to  watch  the  progress  of  the  revolution.  This  could  best  bo 
done  from  England ;  and  the  embassy  at  London,  as  early  as 
the  tenth  of  July,  began  its  iDreliminary  inquiries.  "Eno-. 
land,"  such  was  tlie  substance  of  its  numerous  reports  to  Ver- 
gennes,  "  is  in  a  position  from  which  she  never  can  extricate 
herself.  Either  all  rules  are  false  or  the  Americans  will  never 
again  consent  to  become  her  subjects." 

On  the  tenth,  of  May  1775,  a  few  hom-s  after  the  suiTcn- 
der  of  Ticonderogo,  the  second  continental  congress  met  at 
Philadelphia.  Among  the  delegates  ai)pearcd  Eranklin  and 
Samuel  Adams ;  John  Adams  and  Washington  and  Richard 
Henry  Lee;  soon  joined  by  Patrick  Henry,  and  by  Gc-^-ge 
Clinton,  Jay,  and  the  younger  Ptobcrt  E.  Livingston  of  New 
York. 

They  formed  no  confederacy  ;  tliey  wore  not  an  executive 
government ;  they  were  not  even  a  legislative  body  ;  but  only 
committees  from  twelve  colonies,  deputed  to  consult  on  meas- 
ures of  conciliation,  with  no  means  of  resistance  to  oppression 
beyond  a  voluntary  agreement  io  sus])end  importations  from 


1775.     THE   DEVOLUTION  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.      19 1 

Great  Eritain.  Tlicy  owed  tlio  liall  for  tliclr  sessions  to  the 
eoiu-te.^y  of  the  carpenters  of  the  citj  ,  there  Avas  not  a  foot  of 
land  over  which  they  luul  jurisdiction  ;  and  they  had  not  pow- 
er to  appoint  one  civil  oHicer  to  execute  their  decisions.  Nor 
was  onj  soldier  enlisted  nor  one  ollieer  commissioned  m  their 
name.  Thoy  had  no  treasury,  and  no  authority  to  lay  a  tax  or 
to  borrow  money.  They  had  been  elected,  in  part  at  least, 
by  bodies  which  had  no  recognised  legal  existence;  they  were 
intrusted  with  no  powers  but  those  of  counsel;  most  of  them 
were  held  back  by  explicit  or  implied  instructions ;  and  they 
represented  nothing  more  solid  tiian  the  unformed  opinion  of 
an  unformed  people.  They  were  encountered  by  the  decision 
of  parliament  to  enforce  its  authority,  by  the  king's  refusal 
to  act  as  a  mediator,  and  the  actual  outbreak  of  civil  war.  The 
waters  had  risen ;  the  old  roads  were  oljliterated ;  and  they 
must  strike  out  a  new  path  for  themselves  and  for  the  con- 
tinent. 

The  exigency  demanded  the  instant  formation  of  one  great 
commonwealth,  and  the  declaration  of  independence.  "  They 
are  in  rebellion,"  saldEdnuind  iJurke,  "and  have  done  so  much 
as  to  necessitate  them  to  do  a  great  deal  more."  Independence 
had  long  been  the  desire  of  8amuel  Adams,  and  was  already 
the  reluctant  choice  of  Franklin  and  of  John  Adams,  from  a 
conviction  that  it  could  not  ultimately  be  avoided  ;  but  its  im- 
mediate declaration  was  not  possible.  The  consciousness  that 
there  existed  a  united  nation  was  a  natural  and  inevitable,  but 
also  a  slow  and  gradual  ripening  of  the  American  mind.  Mas- 
sachusetts might  have  come  to  a  result  with  a  short  time  for 
reflection;  but  congress  must  rcopect  thirteen  distinct  organiza- 
tions of  men,  of  Avhom  one  fifth  had  for  their  mother  tono-ue 
some  other  language  than  the  English,  and  wait  for  the  Just 
solution  from  a  sentiment  superior  to  race  and  language. 

The  Americans  were  persuaded  that  they  wel-e  set  apart 
for  the  great  duty  of  establishing  freedom  in  the  New  World 
and  setting  u])  an  example  to  the  Old;  yet,  by  the  side  of 
this  creative  impulfle,  the  love  of  the  mother  country  lay 
deeply  seated  in  the  descendants  of  Eritish  ancestry,  and 
this  love  was  strongest  in  the  province  where  the  collision  had 
begun. 


I'    [' 


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192  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 

The  parent  land  whicli  tlicy  loved  was  an  ideal  England, 
preserving  as  its  essential  character,  tlirou:rh  nil  accidents  o{ 
time  and  every  despotic  tendency  of  a  transient  ministry,  tlie 
unchanging  attaclnncnt  to  liberty.  Of  snch  an  England  the 
congress  cherished  the  langiingo,  the  laws,  and  the  i)('ople ;  and 
they  woidd  not  bo  easily  persuaded  that  independence  of  her 
was  the  only  mode  of  preserving  their  inherited  rights.  Thev 
came  together  thus  undecided,  and  they  long  remained  un- 
decided. They  struggled  against  every  forward  movement, 
and  made  none  but  by  compulsion.  Not  by  any  preconceived 
purpose,  but  by  the  natui-al  succession  of  events  which  they 
could  not  have  avoided,  it  became  their  office  to  inaugurate  a 
union  and  constitute  a  nation. 

On  the  eleventh  of  May  they  listened  to  the  narrative  of 
the  deeds  of  the  nineteenth  of  April  and  their  coi'.scqucncea, 
and  the  approval  of  the  conduct  of  :Massachusetts  was  unani- 
mous. But,  as  that  province  entreated  direction  not  less  than 
assistance,  the  subject  was  approached  with  reserve. 

On  the  thirteenth,  Lyman  Ilall  presented  himself  as  a  dele- 
gate^ for  the  parish  of  St.  John's  in  Georgia,  and  was  gladly 
admitted  with  the  right  to  vote,  excejit  when  the  question 
should  be  taken  by  colonies. 

The  iirst  important  decision  of  congress  related  to  New 
York.  The  city  and  county  on  the  li'fteenth  asked  how  to 
conduct  themselves  with  regard  to  the  regiments  which  were 
known  to  be  unfler  orders  to  that  place;  and,  with  the  sanction 
of  Jay  and  his  colleagues,  they  were  instructed  not  to  oppose 
their  landing,  but  not  to  suffer  tliem  to  erect  fortihcations ;  to 
act  on  the  defensive,  but,  fc  i-  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants 
and  their  property,  to  repel  force  by  force.  Indeed,  no  means 
were  at  hand  to  prevent  the  disembarkation  of  the  Briti3h  regi- 
ments. All  parties  tacitly  agreed  to  a\oid  every  decision 
which  should  invite  attack  or  make  reconciliation  impossible. 
In  conformity  with  this  policy.  Jay  made  the  motion  for  a 
second  petition  to  the  king. 

On  the  eighteenth,  congress  received  the  news  of  the 
capture  of  Ticonderoga ;  but  as  yet  they  did  not  harbor  the 
thought  of  invading  Canada.  For  many  "days  the  state  of  the 
union  engaged  congress  in  a  committee  of  the  whole.     The 


1775.     THE  REVOLUTION  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.      193 

bolder  minds  welcomed  tl.o  tendency  toward  an  entire  separa. 
tion  from  I  r.tain.     The  decision  appeared  for  a  tln.e  to  rest 
on  hoi.tli  Curolma;  and  the  delegates  from  that  province  ap- 
proved the  proposal  of  Jay.  ^ 
Boston  waa  so  strictly  beleaguered  that  it  was  only  from 
the  Ksiands  ,n  and  near  the  harbor  that  fodder,  or  straw,  or 
fresh  meat  eould  bo  obtained  for  the  British  army.     On  tho 
twenty-hrst,  about  sunrise,  it  was  discovered  that  they  wero 
attempting  to  secure  the  hay  on  Grape  island.     Three  alarm 
guns  wore  lircd ;  tho  drums  beat  to  arms;  tho  bells  of  Woy- 
mouth  and  Braintree  wore  set  a-ringing ;  and  men  of  Wey- 
mouth,  Lraintree,  Ilingham,  and  other  places,  swarmed  to  tlio 
sea-side.     Warren,  ever  tho   bravest  among  tho  brave,  was 
among  them.     The  Americans  drove  oil  the  English,  and  set 
lire  to  tlic  hay. 

_  On  the  twenty-fifth,  Howe,  Clinton,  and  BurgovTie  arrived 
with  re-euforccments.  They  brought  angling-rods  and  ex- 
pected a  friendly  reception ;  they  found  themselves  pent  up  in 
a  narrow  peninsula  as  enemies. 

On  the  second  day  after  their  arrival  twenty  or  tliirty 
Anicricans  passed  under  their  eyes  from  Chelsea  to  Ilof^  isl- 
and and  thence  to  East  Boston,  and  drove  ofi  or  destroyed  a 
great  deal  of  stock.    A  schooner  and  a  sloop,  followed  by  a 
party  of  marines  in  boats,  were  sent  from  the  British  squadron 
to  arrest  thorn.     The  Americans  retreated  to  Hog  island  and 
cleared  it  of  more  than  three  hundred  sheep,  besi.les  cows  and 
horses.     They  then  drew  up  on  Chelsea  neck,  and  by  nine  in 
tJie  evcnmg  received  re-enforcements,  with  two  small  four- 
pounders.     With  Putnam  in  command  and  Warren  present 
they  kept  up  the  fight  till  eleven,  when  the  British,  abandon! 
ing  the  schooner,  withdrew.     The  next  morning  at  daybreak 
It  was  boarded  by  the  provincials,  who  carried  olf  four  four- 
pounders  and  twelve  swivels,  and  then  set  it  on  fire     The 
English  lost  twenty  killed  and  fifty  wounded ;  of  tho  provin- 
cials, four  only  were  wounded,  and  those  slightly. 

Encouraged  by  these  successes,  the  New  Englandcrs  stripped 
every  island  between  Chelsea  and  Point  Alderton  of  cattle  and 
lorage. 

rentier,  the  possession 


TOL.    IV.— 13 


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19i 


AMRRICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      r.v.  in. ;  en.  xn. 


und  Crown  INjiiit  stimulatctl  tlio  cntorpriso  of  tlio  settlers  of 
Vermont.  A  Kcliooiier,  ciillwl  for  the  occasion  Liberty,  \vn3 
manned  and  armed  ;  and  Arnold,  who  had  been  at  lica,  took  the 
comnuuuh  With  a  fresh  Hontlicriy  wind,  he  ])!iH«cd  up  Lako 
(Jhamplain  ;  early  on  the  morniiii;'  of  the  eii^hteenth,  nt  the 
head  of  ii  party  in  boats,  lie  hurprised  a  t;ergcant  and  twelve 
men,  and  eaptured  them,  their  arnm,  two  Borvicoable  bnusa  iield- 
pieccs,  and  a  iJritisli  .slooj)  which  lay  in  the  harb;)r  of  St.  John's. 
In  about  an  hour  the  wind  suddeidy  nhifted  ;  and,  with  a  strong 
breeze  from  the  tiorlli,  Arnold  returned  with  Iii.h  prl/.es. 

On  the  rumor  tliat  con^^a-ess  tliought  of  the  al)andonment  of 
Ticondero^a  the  foresters  west  of  the  Green  Llountains  unani- 
mously raised  a  loud  protest.  "  Five  hundred  families,"  wrote 
Arnold,  "  would  be  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  king's  troops  and 
the  Indians."  The  Massachusetts  congress  remonstrated,  while 
Connecticut,  with  the  consent  of  New  York,  ordered  one  thou- 
sand of  hor  sons  to  march  as  speedily  as  possible  to  the  de- 
fence of  the  two  fortresses.  The  counnand  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain  was  the  best  security  against  an  attack  from  red  men  and 
Canadians.  Carleton,  the  governor  of  Canada,  was  using  his 
utmost  efforts  to  fc;m  a  body  capable  of  protecting  the  prov- 
ince. Officers  from  the  French  Canadian  nol)ility  were  taken 
into  pay  ;  the  tribes  nearest  the  English  settlements  were 
tampered  with ;  in  north-western  New  York,  Crny  Johnson 
was  insulating  the  settlers  in  Cherry  Valley,  winning  the  favor 
of  the  SIv  Nations,  and  duping  the  magistrates  of  Schenectady 
and  Albany;  wliHc  La  Cornc  Saint-Luc,  the  old  French  su- 
perintendent of  the  Tndians  of  Canada,  a  man  who  joined  re- 
flective malice  to  rem(,rseless  cruelty,  sent  belts  to  the  northern 
tribes  as  far  as  the  falls  of  St.  Mary  and  Michilimackinac. 

Beyond  the  Alleghanies  a  commonwealth  was  rising  on 
t3ie  banks  of  the  Kentucky  river ;  and  the  principles  on  which 
it  was  formed  were  those  of  self-dependence. 

Henderson  and  his  associates  had,  during  the  winter,  ne- 
gotiated a  treaty  -'vith  the  C^herokees  for  the  land  between 
the  Ohio,  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  the  Cumberland  river, 
and  the  Kentucky  river ;  on  the  seventeenth  of  March  they 
recei\-'  d  their  deed.  To  this  territory  Daniel  Boone,  with  a 
body  of  enterprising  companions,  proceeded  at  once  to  mark 


1775.    THE  IlKVOLUTION  COMES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.      195 

out  a  path  lip  Powoirn  valley,  and  thron^c.},   inountains  and 
crdiubmkes  hcyond.     ()„   the  twenty-fifth  uf  the  same  month 
they  wore  waylaid  hy  Indians,  who  killed  two  men  andwouhdcd 
another  very  severely.     Two  days  later  the  savages  killed  and 
Bcalped  two  more.     '«  Now,"  wrote  Daniel  ]5oone,  "  is  the  time 
to  keep  the  count.-y  while  we  are  in  it.     If  wo  give  way  now 
It  wdl  over  1)0  the  case ; "  and  he  pressed  forward  to  the  Ken' 
tncky  river.     There,  on  the  first  of  April,  at  the  distance  ot 
abont  sixty  ynrds  from  its  west  bank,  near  tho  mouth  of  Otter 
creek,  he   be-an  a  stockade  fort,  which   took   the  name  of 
Loonosborough.    The  founders  of  the  colony  rested  their  titles 
to  their  lands  on  occupancy  and  a  deed  from  head  warriors 
of  the  Cherokees.     The  commonwealth  of  Kentucky,  which  its 
fathers  at  hr^t  numed  Transylvania,  began  with  independence. 
Itichard  Calloway  was  one  of  its  early  martyrs.     In  tho  town 
of  St.  Asaph  resided  John  Floyd,  a  surveyor,  who  emigrated 
xrcm  south-western  Virginia;  an  able  writer,  respected  for  his 
culture;  of  imiato  good-breeding ;  ready  to  defend  tho  weak  ;  to 
follow  the  trail  of  tho  savage;  heedless  of  his  own  life,  if  ho 
could  recover  women  and  children  who  had  boon  made  captive; 
destined  to  do  good  service,  and  survive  the  dangers  of  western 
hfo  tdl  Arooriean  independence  should  be  fought  for  and  won 
At^  Boiling  Spring  lived  James   Harrod,  tho  same  who,  in 
U  ,4,  had  led  a  party  of  forty-one  to  Ilarrodsburg,  and  durinf^ 
the  summer  of  that  year  had  built  the  first  log-cabin  in  Ken"- 
tueky ;  a  tall  and  resolute  backwoodsman ;  unlettered,  but  not 
Ignorant ;  intrepid,  yet  gentle  ;  revered  for  energy  and  for  be- 
nevolence; always  caring  for  others,  as  a  father,  brother,  and 
protector;  unsparing  of  himself;  never  weary  of  kind  offices 
to  those  around  him ;  the  first  to  pursue  a  stray  horse,  or  to 
go  to  the  rescue  of  prisoners;  himself  a   skilful   hunter,  for 
whom  tho  riHe  had  a  companionship    and  the  wilderness  a 
charm ;  so  that  in  age  his  delight  was  in  excursions  to  tho  dis- 
tant range  of  the  receding  buffaloes,  till  at  last  ho  plunged  into 
the  remote  forest,  and  was  never  heard  of  more. 

The  state,  now  th  it  has  become  great  and  populous,  hon- 
ors the  memory  of  Boone,  the  simple-heartea  man,  who  is  best 
known  as  its  pioneer.  He  was  kindly  in  his  nature,  and  never 
wronged  a  human  being,  not  even  a  red  man.     "  I  with  other^i 


Hi'' 


't  if- 


1 1    I 


\   n         ( 


196 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xii. 


have  fought  Indians,"  he  would  say,  "  bnt  I  do  not  know  that 
I  ever  killed  one  ;  if  I  did,  it  was  in  battle,  and  I  never  knew 
it."  He  was  no  hater  of  them,  and  never  desired  their  OAter- 
mination.  In  wood^^raft  he  was  acknowledged  to  be  the  lirst 
among  men.  It  wtis  in  his  nature  to  love  to  hover  on  the 
frontier,  with  no  abiding  place,  accompanied  by  the  wife  of 
his  youth,  who  was  the  companion  of  his  long  life  and  travel. 
When  at  last  death  put  them  both  to  rest,  Kentucky  roe^iimed 
their  bones  from  their  graves  far  up  the  Missouri,  idid  now  they 
lie  buried  above  the  cliffs  of  the  Kentucky  river,  overlooking 
the  lovely  valley  of  the  caj^ital  of  that  commonwealth.  Around 
thern  are  emblems  of  wilderness  life ;  the  turf  of  the  blue  grass 
lies  lightly  above  them ;  and  they  are  laid  with  their  faces  turned 
upward  and  westward,  and  their  feet  toward  the  setting  sun. 

A  like  spirit  of  independence  prevailed  in  the  highlands 
which  hold  the  head-spnngs  of  the  Yadkin  and  the  Catawba. 
The  region  was  peopled  chielly  by  Presbyterians  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  who  brought  to  the  New  World  the  creed,  the 
spirit  of  resistance,  and  the  courage  of  the  covenanters. 

The  people  of  t'-e  county  of  ]\Iecklenburg  had  carefully 
observed  the  progress  of  the  controversy  with  Britain ;  and, 
during  the  winter,  political  meetings  had  repeatedly  been  held 
in  Charlotte,  That  town  had  been  chosen  for  the  seat  of  the 
Presbyterian  college,  whicli  the  legislature  of  North  Carolina 
had  chartered,  but  which  the  king  had  disallowed  ;  and  it  was 
the  centre  of  the  culture  of  that  part  of  the  province.  The 
number  of  houses  in  the  village  was  not  more  than  twenty ; 
but  the  district  was  already  well  settled  by  herdsmen  who  lived 
apart  on  their  farms.  In  May  1775,  they  received  the  ad- 
dress to  the  king  of  the  preceding  February,  in  which  both 
houses  of  parliament  declared  the  American  colonics  to  be  in  a 
state  of  rebellion.  This  was  to  them  evidence  that  the  crisis  in 
American  allairs  was  come,  and  they  proposed  among  them- 
selves to  abrogate  all  dependence  on  the  royal  authority.  But 
the  militia  companies  were  sworn  to  allegiance  ;  and  "  how,"  it 
was  objected,  "  can  wo  be  absolved  from  our  oath  ? "  "  The 
oath,"  it  was  answered,  "  binds  only  while  the  king  protects." 
At  the  instance  of  Thomas  Polk,  the  commander  of  tlie  militia 
of  the  county,  two  delegates  from  each  company  were  called 


1775.     THE  REVOLUTION  COilES  FROM  THE  PEOPLE.       I97 

together  in  Charlotte,  as  a  representative  committee.    Before 
their  consultations  had  ended,  the  message  of  tlie  innocent  blood 
shed  at  Lexington  came  up  from  Charleston,  and  inHamed  their 
zeal.    They  were  Impatient  that  their  remoteness  forbade  their 
direct  activity;  had  it  been  possible,  they  would  have  sent  a 
hundred  bullocks  from  their  fields  to  the  poor  of  Boston.    No 
minutes  of  the  committee  are  known  to  exist,  but  the  result  of 
their  deliberations,  framed  with  superior  skill,  precision!  and 
comprehensiveness,  remains  as  a  monument  of  their  wisdom  and 
their  courage.    Among  the  delegates  to  that  memorable  assem- 
bly was  Ephralm  Brevard,  one  of  a  numerous  family  of  patriot 
brothers,  himself  in  the  end  a  martyr  to  the  public  cause, 
irauicd  m  the  college  at  Princeton,  ripened  among  the  brave 
Presbyterians  of  middle  Carolina,  he  digested  the  system  which 
was  then  adopted,  and  which  formed  in  effect  a  declaration  of 
independence,  as  well  as  a  system  of  goverament.     "AH  laws 
and  commi,-=sions  confirmed  by  or  derived  from  the  authority 
of  the  king  or  pariiament,"  such  are  the  well-considered  words 
of  these  daring  statesmen,  "are  annulled  and  vacated  ;  all  com- 
missions, civil  and  military,  heretofore  granted  1)y  the  crown 
to  be  exercised  in  the  colonies,  are  void ;  the  provincial  con- 
gress of  each  province,  under  the  direction  of  the  great  conti- 
nental congress,  is  invested  with  all  legislative  and  executive 
powers  within  the  respective  provinces,  and  no  otlier  legisla- 
tive or  executive  power  does  or  can  exist  at  thl;  time  in  any 
pavt  of  these  colon '"es.     As  all  former  laws  are  now  suspended 
m  this  province,  and  the  congress  has  not  yet  provided  others, 
Ave  judge  it  necessary,  for  the  better  preservation  of  ffood  order,' 
to  form  certain  rules  and  regulations  for  the  internal  govern- 
ment of  this  country,  until  laws  shall  be  provided  for  us  by 
the  congress." 

In  accordance  with  these  principles,  the  freemen  of  the 
county  formed  themselves  into  nine  military  companies,  elect- 
lug  their  own  onicers.  The  tenure  alike  of  military  and  civil 
olhcers  Avas  "  the  pleasure  of  their  several  constituents."  All 
public  and  county  taxes,  all  quit-rents  to  the  crown,  were  se- 
questered ;  and  it  was  voted  that  persons  receiving  new  com- 
missions from  the  king,  or  exercising  old  ones,  should  be  dealt 
with  as  enemies  of  the  countrj'. 


*  ■; 


I 


■ 

1  lii 

Ihb'i*'  " 

"■  'i  ,ii: 

I 

■  '     1 

'       ; 

'ill' 


:i- 


1  I 


198  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  cii.  xii. 

The  resolves  were  to  be  onforced  till  the  provincial  con- 
gress sliould  otherwise  ordain,  or  the  British  iDurliainent  resign 
its  arbitrary  pretensions  with  respect  to  America.  At  the 
same  time,  the  militia  companies  were  directed  to  provide 
themselves  with  arms ;  and  Thomas  Polk  and  Joseph  Kenedy 
were  appointed  to  purchase  flints,  lead,  and  powder. 

On  the  thirty-flrst  of  May  the  resolutions  were  signed  by 
Brevard  as  clerk  of  tlie  committee,  and  were  adopted"  by  the 
people  with  the  enthusiasm  which  sjn-ings  from  the  combined 
influence  of  religion  and  the  love  of  civil  liberty.  The  resolves 
wore  transmitted  with  all  speed  to  be  printed  in  Charleston ; 
they  startled  the  governors  of  Georgia  and  North  Carolina' 
who  forwarded  them  to  the  British  govenmicut.  An  authen- 
tic copy  of  the  resolves  was  despatched  by  order  of  the  con- 
vention to  the  continental  congress,  that  the  world  might  know 
their  authors  had  renounced  their  allegiance  to  the  king  of 
Great  Britain,  and  constituted  a  government  for  themselves. 

The  messenger  stopped  on  his  way  at  Salisbury ;  and  there, 
to  a  crowd  round  the  court-house,  the  resolves  were  read  and 
approved.  The  western  counties  were  the  most  populous  part 
of  North  Carolina ;  and  the  royal  governor  had  ^vritten :  "  I 
have  no  doubt  that  I  might  command  their  best  services  at  a 
word  on  any  emergency.  I  consider  I  have  the  means  in  my 
own  hands  to  maintain  the  sovereignty  of  this  country  to  my 
royal  master  in  all  events."  And  yet  he  was  obliged  to  trans- 
mit the  resolutions  of  Mecklenburg,  which  he  described  as 
"most  traitorously  declaring  the  entire  dissolution  of  the  laws 
and  constitution,  and  setting  up  a  system  of  rule  and  regula- 
tion subversive  of  his  majesty's  government." 


1775.     GEORGE  WASHINGTON,   COMMANDEK-IN- CHIEF.     I99 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MASSACHUSETTS  ASKS   FOR   GEORGE  WASHINGTON  AS   COMMANDEE- 

in-ciiief. 
May- June  17,  1775. 

"  Unhappy  it  is,"  said  AYasliington,  "to  reflect  that  a  broth- 
er's sword  has  been  sheathed  in  a  brother's  breast,  and  that  the 
once  happy  and  peaceful  plains  of  America  are  either  to  be 
drenched  with  blood  or  inhabited  by  slaves.  Sad  alternative ! 
But  can  a  virtuous  man  hesitate  in  his  choice? "  He  foresaw 
the  long  contest  which  was  to  precede  the  successful  vindica- 
tion of  the  liberties  of  America ;  and  from  the  first  he  avowed 
to  his  friends  "  his  full  intention  to  devote  his  life  and  for- 
iime"  to  the  cause.  To  mark  the  necessity  of  immediate 
preparation  for  war,  he  wore  in  congress  his  uniform  as  an 
officer. 

Franklin,  who  knew  with  certainty  that  every  method  of 
peaceful  eiitroaty  had  been  exhausted,  reproved  irresoluteness 
and  delay.  "  Make  yourselves  sheep,"  he  would  say,  "  and  the 
wolves  will  eat  you ;"  and  again,  "  God  helps  thein  who  help 
themselves ; "  adding,  hopefully :  -  United,  we  are  well  able 
to  repel  force  by  force."  Thus  "he  encouraged  the  revolu- 
tion," yet  wishing  for  independence  ^s  tlie  spontaneous  action 
of  a  united  people.  The  people  of  the  continent,  now  that 
independence  was  become  inevitable,  still  longed  that  the  ne- 
cessity for  it  might  pass  by. 

In  this  state  of  things  Dickinson  seconded  the  motion  of 
Jay  for  one  more  petition  to  the  king  ;  but  his  determination 
to  sustain  IMassachusetts  was  never  in  doubt.  He  did  not  ask 
merely  relief  from  parliamentary  taxation;    ho   insisted   on 


ijj'i    •" 


ii    SjI   '  I; 


^?!HS!HHB1?» 


r  I 


200         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  m. ;  en.  xiii. 

security  against  tlic  oncroaelimcnts  of  parliament  on  charters 
and  laws  so  distinctly  and  firmly  that  Sanmel  Adams  pro- 
nounced the  Farmer  a  thorough  Bostonian. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  the  chair  of  the  president  hceomino- 
vacant  by  the  departure  of  Peyton  Randolph,  John  Hancock 
ot  Massachusetts  was  elected  unanimously  in  his  stead;  and 
Ilarnson  of  Virginia  conducted   him   to   the   chair,  sayino-- 
_  We  wdl  show  Britain  how  nmch  we  value  her  proscrip- 
tions;" for  the  proscription  of  Samuel  Adams  and  Hancock 
had  long  been  known,  though  it  had  not  yet  been  proclaimed 
On  the  twenty-fifth  directions  were  given  to  the  provincial 
congress  in  New  York  to  fortify  posts  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
island  near  King's  Bridge,  and  on  each  side  of  Hudson  river 
in  the  Highlands.     A  post  was  to  be  taken  near  Lake  Georo-e 
On  that  same  day  Duanc  moved  in  the  committee  of  t"iic 
whole    that  "the  opening  of  a  negotiation  to  accommodate 
the  unhappy  disputes  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  colomeo   be   made  a  part  of  the  petition  to  the  kino-" 
After  a  warm  debate  of   two  days,  it  .vas  unanimously  re- 
solved "that,  for  safety  against  every  attempt  to  carry  the 
unconstitutional  acts  into  execution  by  force  of  arms,  the  colo 
mes  be  immediately  put  into  a  state  of  defence;   but  that 
with  a  sincere  desire  of  contributing  by  all  the  means,  not  in- 
compatible with  a  just  regard  for  their  midoubted  rights  and 
true  interests,  to  the  promotion  of  this  most  desirable  reconcili- 
ation, an  humble  and  dutif id  i^etitiou  be  presented  to  his  ma- 
jesty. '  ^  To  this  the  motion  of  Duane  was  added  in  spite  of 
an  unyielding  opposition. 

^  11  this  while  congress  counselled  New  York  to  arm  and 
tram  Its  militia,  and  to  embody  men  for  the  protection  of  its 
chief  city  against  invasion.  On  the  twenty-ninth,  by  the  hand 
ot  Jay  they  again  addressed  the  Canadians,  but  without  set- 
ting before  them  adequate  motives  for  risino-. 

This  is  the  moment  when  the  proposarof  Lord  North  to 
settle  the  strife  between  Great  Britain  and  the  thirteen  colo- 
mcs  was  pressed  upon  the  attention  of  the  American  people. 
On  the  thirtieth  Willing  of  Philadelphia  brought  before  con- 
gress  a  piper  without  signature  yet  unquestionably  authentic, 
which,  after  an  appeal  to  the  affections  of  the  colonists  for  the 


,f  .  f 


1775.     GEORGE  WASIIINGT0J7,  COMMANDEK-IN-CIIIEF.    201 

king  and  country,  declared  tliat  tlie  overture  contained  in  tlie 
resolution  of  the  house  of  commons  on  the  basis  of  relief  of 
the  colonies  from  taxation  by  parliament  was  honorable  for 
Great  Britain  and  safe  for  the  colonies ;  that  neither  king,  nor 
ramistry,  nor  parliament,  nor  the  nation  would  admit  of  further 
relaxation ;  but  that,  if  it  should  not  be  accepted,  "a  perfectly 
united  ministry  would  employ  the  whole  force  of  the  kino-- 
dom^to  reduce  the  rebellious  and  refractory  provinces  and  colo- 
nies." An  acceptance  of  the  offer  by  congress  would  have 
been  an  acquiescence  in  the  parliamentary  change  of  the  char- 
ter of  Massachusetts, 

Lord  North  and  Lord  Dartmouth  earnestly  desired  to  win 
the  consent  of  Virginia  to  this  insidious  offer,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose Lord  Dunmore,  by  their  injunctions,  summoned  the  house 
of  burgesses  of  Virginia  to  meet  on  the  first  day  of  Juno  1775. 
Peyton   Eandolph,  the  speaker,  who  had  prcsid-d  over  the 
congress  at  Philadelphia,  entered  Williamsburg  with  an  escort 
of  independent  companies  of  horse  and  foot,  which  eclip  'ed 
the  pomp  of  the  governor,   and   in  the  eyes  of   the  people 
raised  the  importance  of  the  newly  created  continental  power. 
The  session  was  opened  by  a  speech  recommending  accom- 
modation on  the  basis  of  Lord  Nortli's  resolve.    Put  the  mo- 
ment chosen  for  the  discussion  was  inopportune ;  Diiinnorc's 
menace  of  a  servile   insurrection  had  filled  the  South  with 
horror  and  alarm.     The  retreat  from  Concord  had  raised  the 
belief  that  the  American  forces  would  prove  invincible ;  and 
some  of  the  burgesses  appeared  in  the  uniform  of  the  pro- 
vincial  troops,  wearing  a  hunting-shirt  of  coarse  homespun 
hnen  over  their  clothes,  and  a  woodman's  axe  at  their  sides. 

Jefferson  came  down  from  Albemarle  with  clear  percep- 
tions of  public  duty.  When  parliament  oppressed  the  colonies 
by  imposing  taxes,  ho  would  have  been  content  with  their  re- 
peal ;  when  it  mutilated  the  charter  and  laws  of  Massachusetts, 
he  still  hoped  for  conciliation  through  the  wisdom  of  Chatham  ; 
but  after  Lexington  green  had  been  stained  with  blood,  he,  like 
Dickinson,  Avould  no  longer  accept  acts  of  repeal  unless  accom- 
panied by  security  against  further  aggression. 

The  burgesses  approved  the  conduct  of  the  Lidian  war 
of  the  previous  yera-,  and  provided  for  its  cost :  but  the  ."-qv 


H   'I 


I! 


i  !  ■ 


!:■ 


•    J    'M. 


'   ! 


i:      i 


202         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  m. ;  en.  xm. 

ernor  would  not  pass  tlicir  bill,  bccauno  it  imposed  a  specific 
duty  of  five  pounds  on  the  head,  about  ten  per  cent  on  tlio 
value,  of  every  slave  imported  from  the  West  Indies.  The 
last  exercise  of  the  veto  power  by  the  king's  rein-esentativo  in 
Virginia  was  for  the  protection  of  the  slave-trade. 

The  assembly,  having  on  the  fifth  tli  iiked  the  delegates  of 
the  colony  to  the  first  congress,  prepared  to  consider  the  pro- 
posal of  Lord  North.  The  anxious  governor  sent  them  an 
apology  for  his  removal  of  the  powder  belonging  to  the  prov- 
ince, and  reminded  them  that  he  had  ventured  his  life  in  the 
service  of  Virginia  ;  but  the  burgesses,  after  taking  testimony 
which  proved  his  avowed  intention  to  raise,  free,  and  arm 
slaves,  selected  Jefferson  to  draught  their  replv. 

While  the  house  was  thus  employed,  Dunmore,  learnino. 
from  Gage  that  Samuel  Adams  and  Hancock  were  soon  to  be 
proscribed,  and  fearing  ho  might  be  detained  as  a  hosta-e,  sud- 
denly, HI  the  night  following  the  seventh  of  June,  went  on 
board  the  Fowcy  at  York,  giving,  as  a  reason  for  his  fii-ht  his 
apprehension  of  "falling  a  sacrifice  to  the  daring  atrocious'ness 
and  unmeasurablo  fury  of  great  numbers  of  the  people." 

The  burgesses  paid  no  heed  to  his  angry  words.    On  the 
twelfth,  in  the  word.,  of  Jefferson,  they  addressed  to  him  as 
their  final  answer   that,   "  next   to  the  ])ossession  of   liberty 
they  should  consider  a  reconciliation  as  the  greatest  of  all  hu- 
man blessings,  but  that  the  resolution  of  the  house  of  com- 
mons only  changed  the  foi-m  of  oppression,  without  lightenino- 
IS  burdens  ;  that  government  in  the  colonies  was  instituted  for 
the  colonies  themselves;  that  the  British  parliament  had  no 
right  to  meddle  with  their  constitution,  or  preccribe  cither  the 
number  or  the  pecuniary  appointments  of  their  utticers;  that 
they  had  a  right  to  give  their  money  without  coercion,  and 
from  time  to  time ;  that  they  alone  were  the  judges,  alike  of 
the  public  exigencies  and  the  ability  of  the  people  ;  that  they 
contended  not  merely  for  the  mode  of  raising  their  money,  but 
for  the  freedom  of  granting  it;  that  the  resolve  to  forbear 
evying  pecuniary  taxes  still  loft  unrepealed  the  acts  restrainino- 
trade  altering  the  form  of  government  of  Massachusetts,  chan<?- 
nig  the  government  of  Quebec,  enlarging  the  jurisdiction  of 
courts  of  admiralty,  taking  away  the  trial  by  jury,  and  keeping 


1775.     GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.     203 

up  standing  armies ;  tlir  ■;  the  invasion  of  the  colonies  with 
large  armaments  by  sea  and  land  was  a  style  of  asking  gifts 
not  reconcilable  to  freedom ;  tliat  the  resolution  did  not  pro- 
pose to  the  colonics  to  lay  open  a  free  trade  with  all  the  world  • 
that,  as  it  involved  the  interest  of  all  the  other  colonies,  they 
were  bound  in  honor  to  share  one  fate  with  them;  that  the 
bill  of  Lord  Chatham  on  the  one  part,  and  the  terms  of  con- 
gress on  the  other,  would  have  formed  a  basis  for  negotiation 
and  a  reconciliation ;  that,  leaving  the  final  determination  of 
the  question  to  the  general  congress,  they  will  weary  the  kin^r 
with  no  more  petitions,  the  British  nation  with  no  more  aj" 
peals."  "  niiat,  then,"  they  ask,  "  remains  to  be  done  ?  "  and 
they  answer :  ''  We  commit  our  injuries  to  the  justice  of  the 
even-handed  Being  who  doth  no  wrong." 

"  In  my  life,"  said  Shell)urnc,  "  I  was  never  more  pleased 
with  a  state  paper  than  with  the  assenjbly  of  Virginia's  dis- 
cussion of  Lord  North's  proposition.  It  is  masterly."  At 
Versailles,  Vergennes  was  equally  attracted  by  its  wisdom  and 
dignity  ;  he  particularly  noticed  the  ineinuatiou  that  a  compro- 
mise might  be  efeeeted  on  the  basis  of  the  modiiieation  of 
the  navigation  acts ;  aiid,  as  ho  saw  many  ways  opened  of  set- 
tling every  difficulty,  it  was  long  before  he  could  persuade 
himself  that  the  British  ministry  was  so  infatuated  as  to 
neglect  them  all.  From  Williamsburg,  .Tcflerson  repaired  to 
Philadelphia ;  but,  before  he  arrived  there,  decisive  commu- 
nications had  been  received  from  Massachusetts. 

That  colony  still  languished  in  anarchy,  from  which  they 
were  ready  to  relieve  themselves,  if  they  could  but  wring  the 
consent  of  the  continental  congress  to  their  "  taking  up'' and 
exercising  the  powers  of  civil  goverament."  The*^  congress 
of  Massachusetts  further  invited  the  general  congress  "  to  as- 
sume the  regulation  and  direction  of  the  ariny,'t]icn  collect- 
ing from  ditierent  colonies  for  the  defence  of  the  rights  of 
America."  In  the  same  moment  Samuel  Adams  received 
a  private  letter  from  Joseph  Warren,  intei-preting  the  words 
as  a  request  that  the  continent  should  "  take  the  command  of 
the  army  by  appointing  AVashington  as  its  generalissimo." 
The  bearer  of  the  letter  had  hardly  finished  his  commission 
of  explaining  more  fully  the  wishes  of  T^Fassachusotts,  when 


';  M 


.',      i      I    ) 


I-.    ■ 


i        '      1 


i 


t- 


It 


:j 

1,:: 

204         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  cir.  xui. 


an  express  arrived  with  the  news  that  Tlowe  and  Ch'nton  and 
Eurgoyiie  liad  laiHlcd  in  IJoston ;  that  British  re-ciiforccnients 
were  arriving ;  that  other  parts  of  the  continent  were  threat- 
ened witli  war.  A  letter  received  from  tlie  congress  of  New 
Hampshire  intiniited  that  "tlie  voice  of  God  and  nature" 
was  summoning  tlie  colonies  to  independence. 

On  the  earliest  occasion  John  Adams  explained  the  com- 
position and  character  of  the  New  England  army,  its  merits 
and  its  v/ants,  the  necessity  of  its  being  adopted  hy  tli3  con- 
tinent, and  the  consequent  pi-opriety  that  congress  should  name 
its  general.  Then,  speaking  fur  his  constituents,  he  poiuted 
out  George  Washington  as  the  man  above  all  others  fitted  for 
that  station,  and  best  able  t.>  promote  union.  Sanmel  Adams 
seconded  his  colleague.  The  delegates  from  the  Ancient  Do- 
niinion,  especially  Pendleton,  "Washington's  per^:onal  friend, 
disclaimed  any  wish  that  the  Massachusetts  connnander  should 
be  superseded  by  a  ^'irginian,  and  from  delicacy  declined  the 
nomination  of  their  own  colleague.  Washington  himself  had 
never  aspired  to  the  honor,  though  for  some  time  he  had  been 
"apprehensive  that  he  could  not  avoid  the  appointment." 

The  balloting  for  oflicers  was  delayed,  that  the  members 
from  Xew  York  might  consult  their  congress  on  the  nomina- 
tions from  that  colony. 

With  an  empire  to  found  and  to  defend,  congress  had  not  as 
yet  had  the  disposal  of  one  penny  of  money.  In  the  urgency 
of  extreme  distress,  they  undertook  to  borrow  six  thousand 
pounds,  to  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  gun]jowder  for  what 
was  now  for  the  first  time  called  tue  coxtinkxtat.  aumv. 

In  the  arrangement  of  its  committees  and  the  distribution 
of  business,  its  policy  was  aii  armed  defence,  while  waiting  for 
a  further  answer  from  the  king.  On  the  seventh  of  June  one 
of  its  resolutions  spoke  of  '•  the  Twelve  Fnited  Colonics," 
Cxeorgia  being  not  yet  iucluded  ;  and  the  name  implied  an  in- 
dependent nation ;  but  on  the  eighth  it  rccouuneaded  to  Mas- 
sacluisetts  not  to  elect  a  governor  of  their  own,  but  to  intrast 
the  executive  power  to  the  elective  council  "  until  a  governor 
of  the  king's  appointment  would  consent  to  govern  the  colony 
according  to  its  charter." 

The  twelfth  of  June  is  a  memorable  day,  for  it  brought 


1775.     GEORGE   WASIIINGTOJ^,  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.     205 

into  tlio  clearest  li^^lit  tlio  diirercnee  between  tlio  dispositions 
of  America  and  of  tlie  Hr^tish  gov^erninent.  On  that  day 
Gnge  established  martial  law  tlironghout  Massachusetts  and  by 
jmblic  proclamation  proscribed  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Han- 
cock, reserving  them  for  condign  punishment  as  rebels  and 
traitors,  in  terms  which  included  as  their  abettors  not  only  all 
wlio  sliould  remain  in  arms  about  Boston,  but  every  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  govermnent  and  of  the  continental  congress. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June  the  general  congress  made  its  first 
appeal  to  the  people  of  the  twelve  united  colonies  by  enjoinin.-T 
them  to  keep  a  fast  on  one  and  the  same  day,  on  which  they 
were  to  recognise  "  King  George  III.  as  their  rightful  sov- 
ercign,  ar.d  to  look  u])  to  the  great  Governor  of  the  world  for 
the  restoration  of  tlie  invaded  rights  of  America  and  a  recon- 
ciliation with  the  parent  state." 

Measures  Avere  next  taken  for  organizing  and  paying  an 
American  continental  army.  At  that  moment  troops  might 
without  effort  have  been  enlisted  for  the  war ;  congress,  with 
want  of  forcoight,  ordered  tliem  to  be  enlisted  only  tHl  the  end 
of  the  year,  before  which  time  a  favorable  answer  from  the 
king  was  hoped  for.  Washington,  Schuyler,  and  others,  were 
deputed  to  prepare  the  necessary  rules  and  regulations.  It 
was  further  resolved  to  enlist  six  companies  of  expert  rilkinen 
in  Pennsylvania,  two  in  Maryland,  and  two  in  Virginia  ;  and, 
on  the  fifteenth  of  June,  it  was  voted  to  appoint  a  general. 
Thomas  Johnson  of  Maryland  nominated  George  AVashino-- 
lon ;  and  he  was  elected  by  ballot  imanimously. 

Washington  was  then  forty-three  years  of  ago.  In  stature 
he  a  little  exceeded  six  feet ;  his  limbs  were  sinewy  and  well- 
proportioned  ;  his  chest  broad  ;  his  figure  stately,  blending 
dignity  of  presence  with  ease.  His  robust  constitution  had 
been  tried  and  invigorated  by  his  early  life  in  the  wilderness, 
the  habit  of  occupation  out  of  doors,  and  rigid  temperance ;  so 
that  few  equalled  him  in  strength  of  arm,  or  power  of  endur- 
ance, or  iioble  horsemanship.  His  comjilexion  was  florid  ;  his 
hair  dark  brown  ;  his  head  in  its  shape  perfectly  round.  His 
broad  nostrils  seemed  formed  to  give  escape  to  scornful  anger. 
The  lines  of  his  eyebrows  were  long  and  finely  arched.  His 
dark  blue  eyes,  wbicli  were  deeply  set,  had  an  expression  of 


■'1 


:M     t! 


V     I 


r.  I 


I 


i  i 


206         AMEIUCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EI',  iir. ;  en.  XIII. 


re-signjition,  and  an  earnestness  that  was  almost  pcnsiveness. 
His  forehead  was  soinelinies  marked  with  tlioiight,  but  never 
with  inquietude;  liis  eountenance  was  plejising  and  full  of 
benignity. 

At  eleven  years  old  left  to  the  care  of  an  excellent  but 
unletten.'d  mother,  he  grew  up  without  learning.     Of  arith- 
metic  and  geometry  lie  acquired  just  knowledge  enough  to 
be  able  to  pi-acticc  measuring  land  ;  but  all  his  instnictTon  at 
school  taught  him  not  so  nuich  as  the  orthographv  or  rules 
of  granmiar  of  his  own  tongue.    His  culture  was  alto-ether  his 
own  work;  yet  from  early  life  he  never  seemed  uneducated. 
At  sixteen  he  went  into  the  wilderness  as  a  surveyor,  and  for 
three  years  continued  the  pursuit,  where  the  forests  trained 
him,  in  meditative  solitude,  to  freedom  and  largeness  of  mind  ; 
and  nature  revealed  to  him  lier  obedience  to  serene  and  silent 
laws.     In  his  intervals  from  toil  he  seemed  always  to  be  at- 
tracted t(j  the  society  of  the  best  men,  and  to  be  cherished  by 
them.     Fairfax,  his  employer,  an  Oxford  scholar,  already  aged, 
became  his  fast  friend.     He  read  little,  but  with  close  atten- 
tion.    Whatever  he  took  in  hand  he  applied  himself  to  with 
care ;  and  his  papers,  which  have  been  preserved,  show  how 
he  almost  imperceptibly  gained  the  power  of  writing  correctly, 
always  expressing  himself  with  clearness  and  directness,  often 
with  a  happy  choice  of  language  and  ^vith  grace. 

AVheu  the  frontiers  on  the  West  became  disturbed,  he  at 
nineteen  was  commissioned  an  adjutant-general  with  the  rank 
of  major.     At  twenty-one  he  went  as  the  envoy  of  Virginia 
to  the  council  of  Indian  chiefs  on  the  Ohio,  and  to  the  French 
officers  near  Lake  Erie.     Fame  waited   upon  him  from  his 
youth  ;  and  no  one  of  his  colony  was  so  much  spoken  of.     He 
conducted  the   iirst  military  expedition   from  Virginia  that 
crossed  the  Alleghanics.    Eraddock  selected  him  as  an  aid,  and 
be  was  the  only  man  who  came  out  of  the  disastrous  defeat 
near  the  Monongahela  with  increased  reputation,  which   ex- 
tended to  England.    The  next  year,  when  he  was  but  four-and- 
twenty,  "the  great  esteem"  in  which  he  was  held  in  Virginia, 
and  his  "  real  merit,"  led  tlic  lieutenant-govenior  of  Maryland 
to  request  that  he  might  bo  ''commissioned  and  appointed 
second  m  command"  of  the  army  designed  to  march  to  the 


II 


1775.      GEORGE   WASrilXGTON-  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.     2l»7 

Oliio;  and  Shirley,  the  cr>iiiniaudcr-in-cLict',  licard  tho  i)ro. 
posal  "  with  gi-eat  eatisfactiou  and  pleasure,"  for  "he  knew  no 
provincial  otliccr  upon  tho  continent  to  whom  he  would  bo 
readily  give  that  rank  as  to  Washington."  In  1758  lio  acted 
under  Forbes  as  a  brigadier,  and  but  for  hini  that  general 
would  never  have  crossed  tho  mountains. 

Courage  was  so  natural  to  him  that  it  was  haruly  ppokcn 
of ;  no  one  ever  at  any  moment  of  his  life  discovered  in  him 
the  least  shriidcing  in  danger  ;  and  he  had  a  hardihood  of  daring 
which^  escaped  notice,  because  it  was  enveloped  by  calmness 
and  wisdom. 

All  agree  that  he  was  most  amiable.  Jlis  address  was 
most  easy  and  agreeable,  his  step  firm  and  graceful,  his' air 
neither  grave  nor  familiar.  He  was  as  cheerful  as  he  was 
spirited,  frank  and  comnnmient'  i  iu  the  society  of  friends, 
fond  of  the  fox-chase  and  the  dance,  often  sportive  in  his 
letters,  and  he  liked  a  hearty  laugh.  "  His  smile,"  writes  Clias- 
tellux,  "was  always  the  smile  of  benevolence."  This  joy- 
ousness  of  disposition  remained  to  the  last,  though  the  vastness 
of  his  responsibilities  was  soon  to  take  from  him  the  right  of 
displaying  the  impulsive  qualities  of  his  nature,  and  the  weight 
which  he  was  to  bear  was  to  overlay  and  re])rcss  his  gayety  and 
openness. 

His  hand  was  liberal,  giving  quietly  and  without  observa- 
tion, as  though  he  was  ashamed  of  nothing  but  being  discov- 
ered in  doing  good.  He  was  kindly  and  compassionate,  and 
of  lively  sensibility  to  tho  sorrows  of  othcra;  so  that,  if  his 
country  had  only  needed  a  victim  for  its  relief,  he  woidd  have 
willingly  offered  himself  as  a  sacriiice.  Eut  while  he  was 
prodigal  of  himself,  he  was  ever  parsimonious  of  the  blood  of 
Lis  countrymen. 

Early  in  life  he  inlieritod  from  an  elder  brother  the  estate 
of  Mount  Vernon,  which  he  managed  witli  prudent  care ;  but, 
as  a  public  man,  he  knew  no  other  aim  than  the  good  of  his 
country,  and  in  the  hour  of  his  country's  jjoverty  he  refused 
personal  emolument  for  his  service. 

His  faculties  were  so  well  balanced  and  combined  that  his 
constitution,  free  from  excess,  was  tempered  evenly  with  all 
the  elements  of  activity,  and  his  mind  resembled  a  well-ordered 


i     'i 


t  ' 


lit 


■  * 

V-W"n 

-m^mm--^ 

■  i 

s 

/I 

-    ■ 

jl 

1 J 

i 

I  M 


J,' 


208        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


iltli:  hi 


Kr.  III. ;  cir.  xiii. 


I'^oi 


cominonwcaitii ;  las  passions, 

owned  alk-ianco  to  muson ;  and,  witli  all  the  tiory  quieknm 
of  his  spirit,  his  impotnous  and  nm^sivo  will  was  held  in  check 
by  consuinniato  jiid-nient.  lie  had  in  his  composition  a  cahn, 
which  gave  him  in  moments  of  higliest  excitement  the  power 
of  self-control,  and  enabled  him  to  excel  in  patience,  even  when 
ho  liad  most  cause  for  disgnst.  AV^ashin-ton  was  olTcred  a  com- 
mand when  there  was  littlo  to  l.rhig  out  the  miorganizcd  re- 
sources of  the  continent  but  his  own  inlluence,  and  authority 
was  connected  with  the  ])eoplo  by  the  most  frail,  most  attenu- 
ated, scarcely  discernible  threads;  y^,t,  vehement  as  was  his 
nature,  impasoioucd  as  was  his  courage,  he  so  restrained  his 
ardor  that  ho  never  failed  continuously  to  exert  that  inllueuce, 
and  never  exerted  it  so  sharply  as  to  break  its  force. 

His  faculty  of  secrecy,  in  which  he  was  unsurpassed,  had 
the  character  of  prudent  reserve,  not  of  concealment.  1 1  is 
great  natural  power  of  vigilance  had  been  developed  by  his 
life  in  the  wilderness. 

His  understanding  was  lucid  and  his  judgment  accurate 
so  tlhit  his  conduct  never  betrayed  hurry  or  confusion.  No 
d(!tad  was  too  minute  for  his  personal  inquiry  and  continued 
supervision ;  and  at  the  Pame  time  he  comprehended  events 
in  their  widest  aspects  and  relations.  Jle  never  seemed  above 
the  object  that  engaged  his  attention,  and  ho  waf)  always  ecpial 
without  an  cllort,  to  the  solution  of  the  highest  questions  af- 
fecting the  destiny  of  mankind,  even  when  there  existed  no 
precedentr,  to  guide  his  decision.  In  the  perfection  of  the  rc- 
iJeetivc  powers  he  had  no  peer. 

In  this  way  he  never  drew  to  himself  admiration  for  the 
possession  of  any  one  quality  in  excess,  never  made  in  council 
any  one  suggestion  that  was  sublime  but  impracticable,  never 
in  action  took  to  himself  the  praise  or  the  blame  of  undertak- 
ings astonishing  in  conception,  but  beyond  his  means  of  execu- 
tion. It  was  the  most  wonderful  aecomplisliment  of  this  man 
that,  placed  upon  the  largest  theatre  of  events,  at  the  head  of 
the  greatest  revolution  in  human  allairs,  he  never  failed  to 
observe  all  that  was  possible,  and  at  the  same  time  to  bound 
Jus  endeavors  by  that  which  was  possible. 

A  sliglit  tinge  in  bis  character,  perceptible  only  to  the  close 


Il 


1775.    GEORGE  WASHINGTON,   COMMANDER  IN-CIIIEF.     OQd 

observer,  revealed  tl,e  region  from  wl.ich  he  Ppnu.r,,  and  ho 
n.i-l.t    ,0  descrihcd  a.s  the  best  specimen  of  nianho,Kl  as  do- 
volopcd  in  Vu'^Mnla;  but  his  qualities  were  so  faultli-ssly  pro- 
portioned  timt  the  whole  people  rather  ciuin.ed  hin.  a8  its 
choicest  rcpreoentatlve,  the  most  complete  expression  of  all 
Its  atta.nn.ents  and  aspirations.     Ho  studied  his  country  and 
conformed   to   it,   not    from   calculation,    but    from  a    sin- 
cere,   ever-active    benevolence    and    svmpathy.      His    coun 
trymen  felt  tlmt   he  was  the  best   typo   of  An.erica;   they 
lived  in  h.s  hfc,  and  made  his  success  and  his  prai.o  their 
own.  '■ 

Profoundly  impi-essed  with  confidence  in  God's  providence 
and  exemplary  in  his  respect  for  the  forms  of  public  worship' 
no  philosopher  of  the  eighteenth  century  was  more  finn  in  the 
Hupporfc^  ot  freedom  of  religious  opinion,  none  more  remote 
from  bi^rotry  ;  l,ut  belief  in  God  and  tnist  in  his  overruling 
power  formed  tlio  essence  of  his  character.     Divine  wisdoin 
not  only  illimui.es  the  spirit,  it  inspires  the  will.     Wasliinffton 
was  a  man  of  action ;  his  creed  appears  in  his  life ;  professions 
burst  from  him  very  rarely,  and  only  at  those  great  moments 
of  crisis  in  the  fortunes  of  his  country  when  earth  and  heaven 
Boomed  actually  to  meet,  and  his  emotions  became  too  intense 
for  s.ipprossion  ;  but  his  whole  being  was  one  continued  act  of 
faith  in  the  eternal,  intelligent,  moral  order  of  the  universe 
Integrity  was  so  completely  the  law  of  his  nature  that  a  planet 
jouki  sooner  have  shot  from  its  sphere  than  he  have  departed 
trora  his  uprightness,  which  was  so  constant  that  it  often  seemed 
0  bo  almost  impersonal.     "His  integrity  was  the  most  pure, 
his  justice  the  most  inflexible  I  have  ever  known,"  writes  Jef- 
ferson, "no  motives  of  interest  or  consanguinity,  of  friendship 
or  iiatrod,  being  al)lc  to  bias  his  decision." 

They  say  of  Giotto  that  he  introduced  goodness  into  the  art 
of  painting;  Washington  carried  it  with  him  to  the  camp  and 
tJie  cabinet,  and  established  a  new  criterion  of  human  great 
ness.  The  jnirity  of  his  will  confirmed  his  fortitude  ;  and  as 
he  never  faltered  in  his  faith  in  virtue,  he  stood  fast  by  that 
which  he  knew  to  be  just ;  free  from  illusions  ;  never  dejected 
by  the  apprehension  of  the  difiiculties  and  perils  that  went 
before  him,  and  drawing  the  promise  of  success  from  the  jus- 

VOL,  IV.— 14  •' 


I 


;iit"j 


I 


i  j'l    t 


n 

i  J 

■ 

■ 


210         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.;  cii.  xiri, 

tiee  of  hia  cause.  Ileiice  he  was  pcrsovcrliio;,  Icavinir  nothiii" 
untimsbed ;  devoid  of  all  taint  of  obstinacy  in  liis  lirinncss ; 
seeking  and  gladly  receiving  advice,  but  ininiovabio  in  bis  de- 
votedness  to  rigbt. 

Of  a  "  retiring  modesty  and  babitual  reserve  "  bis  ambition 
was  no  more  tlian  tbe  consciousnesa  of  power,  and  was  subor- 
dinate to  bid  sense  of  duty ;  bo  took  tbe  foi'omost  place,  for  be 
knew  from  inborn  magnannnity  tbat  it  belonged  to  bim,  and 
be  dared  not  witbbold  tbe  service  required  of  bim ;  so  tbat, 
witb  all  bisbumility,  bo  was  by  necessity  tbe  iirst,  tbougb  never 
for  bimself  or  for  ])rivate  ends.  lie  loved  fame,  tbe  approval 
of  coming  genc^rations,  tbe  good  opinion  of  bis  fellow-men  of 
bis  own  time,  and  be  desired  to  make  bis  conduct  coincide  witb 
tbeir  wisbes ;  but  not  ^ear  of  censure,  not  tbe  prospect  of  ap- 
plause, could  tempt  bim  to  swerve  from  rectitude,  and  tbe 
praise  wbicb  be  coveted  was  tbe  sym])atby  of  tbat  moral  senti- 
ment wbicb  deligbts  in  nprigbtness. 

Tbere  bave  been  soldiers  wbo  bave  acbicved  niigbtier  vic- 
tories in  tbe  field,  and  made  conqnests  more  nearly  correspond- 
ing to  the  boundlessness  of  seltiab  ambition ;  statesmen  wbo 
bave  been  connected  witb  more  startling  npbcavals  of  society  ; 
but  it  is  tbe  greatness  of  "Wasbington  tbat  in  public  trusts  be 
used  power  solely  for  tbe  public  good  ;  tbat  be  Vvas  tlu  life  and 
moderator  and  stay  of  tbe  most  momentous  revolution  in  bu- 
man  affairs,  its  moving  impulse  and  its  restraining  power. 
Combining  tbe  centripetal  and  tbe  centrifugal  forces  in  tbeir 
utmost  sfrengtb  and  in  perfect  relations,  witb  creative  gran- 
deur of  instinct  be  beld  ruin  in  cbcclc,  and  renewed  and  per- 
fected tbe  institutions  of  bis  country.  Finding  tbe  colonics 
disconnected  and  dependent,  bo  left  tbem  such  a  united  and 
"-ell-ordered  commonwealtb  as  no  vicionary  bud  believed  to  be 
possible.  So  tbat  it  lias  been  truly  said :  "  lie  vras  as  fortunate 
as  great  and  good." 

Tbis  also  is  tbe  praise  of  AVa.^bington :  tbat  never  in  tbe 
tide  of  time  lias  any  man  lived  wbo  liad  in  so  great  a  degree 
the  almost  divine  faculty  to  command  the  trust  of  bis  fellow- 
men  and  rule  the  willing.  AVberever  bo  became  known,  in  his 
family,  bis  neighborhood,  bis  county,  his  native  state,  tbe  con- 
tinent, the  camp,  civil  life,  among  the  common  people,  in  for- 


im.     GEOEGE  WASHINGTON,  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.     211 

oign  courts  tlironghont  tho  civilized  world,  and  oven  among  tl.o 
sava^s,,e  beyond  all  other  men  I,ad  the  confidence  of  hi,  kind 
Washington  saw  at  a  glance  the  difticulties  of  the  position 
towh.ch  be  had  been  chosen.     lie  was  appointed  by  a  ^Z 
ernment  wh.cb,  m  its  for™,  was  one  of  the  worst  of  aU  p°2. 
blc  governments  m  time  of  peace,  and  was  snre  to  reved  its 
do  CCS  stdl  more  plainly  in  time  of  war.    It  was  inchol  e  and 
y.tho,  t  an  excent.ve  head  ;  the  several  branches  of  adminisfra 
t.on, ,   to  be  condneted  at  all,  were  to  be  condncted  by  sepo^S 
ov  r.chang,ng,and  irresponsible  committees;  and  all  ,,u!sta 
of  leg,slat,on  and  of  action  nltimately  decided  by  the  one    iTr 
gan,zed  body  of  men,  to  whom  there  had  hardly  been  ..ranted 
power  even  to  originate  advice.    They  were  not  L  rep?  s"ua 
t,ves  of  a  n„.on  ;  tbey  alone  constituted  the  union  of  whi  h  as 
yet,  there  was  no  other  bond.     One  whole  departn.ent  of  Iv 
ernment,  the  jnd.oial,  was  entirely  wanting.     So  was  in  tr!th 
the  e.ec„t  ve.    The  congress  had  no  ability  whatever  to  enfo*,: 
a  decree  of  then-  own  ;  tbey  had  no  revenue,  and  no  anthority  to 
col  ect  a  revenue ;  tbey  h,ad  none  of  the  materials  of  war ;    hey 
d.d  no  0,™  a  cannon,  nor  a  pound  of  powder,  nor  a  tent,  nor  a 

]c.  loasy  of  formmg  an  array,  and  depended  on  the  zeal  of 
volunteer.,  or  of  men  to  bo  enlisted  for  less  tb,an  seven  mon  hs 
1  here  were  no  experienced  officers,  and  no  methods  projected 

Wraen;  of'?  ''"""]    '^"l''"»'""  ''''  "  »"•    "^  ™  '"  the  on 
Jo,mentof  fame;  he  wished  not  to  forfeit  the  esteem  of  his 
follow-men;  and  his  eye  glistened  with  a  tear  as  he  said    n 

"T  :■  r  ^mff  "°"^  ™  °"""^'™  °'  "'^  °n»'-"- 

rep^'atiol"  commencement  of  the  decline  of  my 

.;  ,^"\f"l  T"'''™"'™  ''"'  "'"  ■""'«=  ''""  ^rawr-    On  the 
s  xtoenth  of  June  be  .appeared  in  his  place  in  congress  and 
f  or  refns„,g  all  pay  beyond  bis  e.p.n'ses,  he  spoke"  wL^: 
fc  gned  nrodesty :  "  A.tho  congress  desi,-e  it,  I  will  enter  upon 

seiv,ce,  and  for  the  support  of  the  glorious  cause.  But  I  beg 
.t  nuy  be  remembered  by  every  gentlenun  in  the  room  thaf 
1  tins  day  declare,  with  the  utmost  sincnrltv  T  do  not  thinl 
myselt  equal  to  the  connnand  I  am  honored  wi  b  ' 


?!•; 


'^f 


! 

:  '  ■  '  |: 

. 

i; 

.    t 

• 

fi 

212        AMERICA  ARMS  FOK  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xni. 


Ifi 


.1  I 


!'(  • 


The  next  day  the  delegates  of  all  the  colonies  resolved 
unanimously  in  cong-ress  "  to  maintain  and  assist  liim,  and  ad- 
here to  him,  the  said  George  Washington,  Es(|uire,  with  their 
hves  and  fortunes  in  the  same  cause." 

By  his  eonunisaion  ho  was  invested  with  the  command 
over  all  forces  raised  or  to  he  raised  by  the  Tnited  Colonics, 
and  with  full  power  and  authority  to  order  the  anny  as  he 
should  think  for  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  service,  "  in  un- 
foreseen emergencies  using  his  best  circumspection,  and  advis- 
ing with  his  council  of  war ; "  and  he  was  instructed  to  take 
"  special  care  tlftat  the  liberties  of  America  receive  no  detri- 
ment." 

Washington  knew  that  he  must  depend  for  success  on  a 
steady  continuance  of  purpose  in  an  imperfectly  united  conti- 
nent, and  on  his  personal  influence  over  separate  and  half- 
fonned  governments,  with  most  of  which  ho  was  wholly  unac- 
quainted. He  foresaw  a  long  and  arduous  struggle;  but  a 
secret  consciousness  of  las  power  bade  him  not  to  fear ;  aud 
he  never  adr\!  ■  .d  the  thought  of  sheathiug  his  sword  or  re- 
signing his  command  till  the  work  of  vindicating  American 
liberty  should  bo  done.  To  his  wife  he  unbosomed  his  inmost 
mind :  "  I  hope  my  undertaking  this  sei-vice  is  designed  to 
answer  some  good  purpose.  I  rely  confidently  on  that  Provi- 
dence which  has  heretofore  preserved  and  been  bountiful  to 
me." 

His  acceptance  changed  the  aspect  of  affairs.  John  Adams, 
looking  with  complacency  upon  "the  modest  and  virtu  ais,  the 
amiable,  generous,  and  brave  general,"  as  the  choice  of  Massa- 
chusetts, faid  :  "  This  appointment  will  have  a  great  effect  in 
cementing  the  union  of  these  colonies.  The  general  is  one  of 
the  most  important  characters  of  the  world  ;  upon  him  depend 
the  liberties  of  America."  All  hearts  turned  with  affection 
toward  Washington.  This  is  he  who  was  raised  up  to  be,  not 
the  head  of  a  party,  but  the  father  of  his  country. 


im.  HUNKER  IlILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.    213 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

bunkek  hill. 

June  10-17,  1775. 

TirE  army  round  Eoston  was  "a  mixed  nmltitiide,"  as  yet 
under  very  little  discipline,  order,  or  government."     Ward 
was  enjomed  to  obey  the  decisions  of  tlio  committee  of  safety 
whose  directions  reached  him  throngli  the  council  of  war      Of 
the  private  men,  great  numbers  were  able-bodied,  active,  and 
unquestionably  brave,  and  there  were  officers  worthy  of  leading 
Buch  men.     Eut  a  vicious  system  of  granting  commissions  to 
tliose  who  raised  companies  or  regiments  had  opened  the  Avay 
to  officers  without  capacity,  and  the  real  strength  of  the  army 
was  inferior  to  the  returns.     From  an  insufficient  supiily  of 
tents,  troops  were  quartered  in  the  colleges  and  private  houses 
There  was  a  want  of  money,  of  clothing,  of  engineers,  but,' 
above  all,  of  ammunition.     "Confusion  and  disorder  reio-ned 
m  every  department."  ^ 

Each  colony  had  its  own  militia  laws,  so  that  there  was  no 
uniformity  in  discipline.     Of  the  soldiers  from  the  other  colo- 
nies, only  the  New  Hampshire   regiments  had  as  yet  been 
placed  under  the  command  of  Ward.     Of  the  men  of  Con- 
necticut, a  part  were  with  Spencer  at  Koxbury ;  several  hun- 
dred at  Cambridge  with  Putnam,  the  second  brigadier  who 
was  distinguished  for  bold  advice,  alertness,  and  popular  favor 
and  was  seen  constantly  on  horseback  or  on  foot,  woiking  with 
his  men  or  encouraging  them.    He  repeatedly  but  vainly  asked 
leave  to  advance  the  lines  to  Prospect  Hill.     Yet  the  army 
never  doubted  its  superiority  to  its  enemy;  and  danp-or  nnd 
war  were  becoming  attractive.  "^ 


!.    Ill 


!  •  ' '  1 


-;: 

1 

: 

KT 


1  i' 


^  M 


',? 


214         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXOE.      ep.  m. ;  en.  xiv. 

The  British  forces  gave  signs  of  shame  at  tlieir  coirfine- 
mcnt.  Tlie  secretary  of  state  frequently  assured  the  French 
minister  at  London  that  tl)ey  would  take  the  field,  and  tliat 
tlie  Americans  would  soon  tire  of  the  strife.  The  kin":  of 
England,  Avho  had  counted  the  days  necessary  for  the  voyage 
of  the  transports,  was  "  trusting  soon  to  hear  that  Gage  had 
dispersed  the  rebels,  destroyed  tluir  works,  opened  a  commu- 
nication with  the  country,"  and  imprisoned  the  leading  patri- 
ots of  the  colony. 

The  peninsula  of  Boston,  at  that  time  connected  with  the 
mainland  only  by  a  very  low  and  narrow  isthnnis,  had  at  its 
south  a  promontory  then  known  as  Dorchester  neck,  with  three 
hills  commanding  the  town.  At  the  north  lay  the  peninsula  of 
Oharlcstown,  in  length  not  much  exceeding  a  mile,  in  width  a 
little  more  than  half  a  mile,  but  gradually  diminishing  toward 
the  causeway,  which  kept  asunder  the  Mystic  and  the  Charles. 
Near  its  north-eastern  termination  rose  the  round,  sniooth  accliv- 
ity of  Bunker  Hill,  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  high,  command- 
ing both  peninsulas.  The  high  land  then  fell  away  by  a  grad- 
ual slope  for  about  seven  hundred  yards,  and  just  nortli  hy  east 
of  the  town  of  Charlestown  it  reappeared  with  an  elevation  of 
about  seventy-five  feet,  which  bore  the  name  of  Breed's  Hill. 
These  heights  of  Dorchester  and  Charlestown  commanded 
Boston. 

About  the  middle  of  IMay  a  joint  committee  from  the  com- 
mittee of  safety  and  the  council  of  war,  after  a  careful  exami- 
nation, recommended  that  several  eminences  within  the  limits 
of  the  town  of  Charlestown  should  be  occujiied,  and  that  a 
strong  redoubt  should  be  raised  on  Bunker  Hill.  A  breast- 
work wv.s  thrown  up  across  the  road  near  Prospect  Hill,  and 
Bunker  Hill  was  to  have  been  fortified  as  soon  as  artillery  and 
powder  should  be  supplied;  but  delay  would  have  rendered 
even  the  attempt  impossible.  Gage,  with  the  three  major- 
generals,  was  determined  to  extend  his  lines  north  and  south, 
over  Dorchester  and  Charlestown.  The  execution  of  the  plan 
was  fixed  for  the  eighteenth  of  June. 

This  design  became  known  in  the  American  camp,  and 
raised  a  desire  to  anticipate  the  movement.  Accordingly,  on 
the  fifteenth  of  June,  tlio  Massachusetts  committco  of  safctv 


1775.  BUNKER  UILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.     215 

informed  tlic  council  of  war  that,  in  tlicir  opinion,  Dorchester 
Ileiglits  slionld  bo  fortified;  and  tliey  recomniended  unani- 
mously to  establisli  a  post  on  Bunker  Hill. 

In  searchino^  for  an  officer  suited  to  the  enterpnsc,  the 
choice  fell  on  William  Prescott  of  Pcpperell,  colonel  of  a 
regiment  from  the  north-west  of  Middlesex,  who  himself  was 
solicitous  to  be  employed  in  the  perilous  duty,  and  on  tho 
evening  after  the  vote  of  the  committee  of  safety,  a  night  and 
day  only  in  advance  of  the  purpose  of  Gage,  a  brigade  of  one 
thousand  men  was  placed  under  his  command. 

Soon  after  sunset,  the  party,  composed  of  three  hundred  of 
Prescott's  own  regiment,  detachments  from  those  of  Frye  and 
of  Eridge,  and  two  hundred  men  of  Connecticut,  under  the 
gallant  Thomas  Knowlton  of  Ashford,  were  ordered  to  parade 
on  Cambridge  common.     They  were  a  body  of  husbandmen, 
not  in  uniform,  bearing  for  the  most  part  fowling-pieces  which 
had  no  bayonets,  and  carrying  in  horns  and  pouches  their 
stinted  supi)]y  of  powder  and  bullets.     Langdon,  the  president 
of  Harvard  college,  who  was  one  of  the  chaplains  to  the  army, 
prayed  with  them  fervently ;  then,  as  the  late  darkness  of  the 
inidsummer  evening  closed  in,  they  marched  for  Chariestown 
in  the  face  of  the  proclamation,  issued  only  four  days  before, 
by  which  all  persons  taken  in  arms  against  their  sovereign 
were  threatened  under  mai-tial  law  with  death  by  the  cord  Is 
rebels  and  traitor,;.     Prescott  and  his  party  were  the  first  to 
defy  the  menace ;  he  was  resolved  "never  to  be  taken  alive." 

When,  with  hushed  voices  and  silent  tread,  they  and  the 
wagons  laden  with  intrenching  tools  had  passed  ij'ie  narrow 
isthmus,  Prescott  called  around  him  Elehard  Gridley,  an  expe- 
rienced engineer,  and  the  iield  officers,  to  select  the  spot  for 
their  earthworks.  Tho  committee  of  safety  liad  proposed 
Bunker  Hill;  but  Prescott  had  "received  orders  to  march  to 
Breed^s  Hill."  He  obeyed  the  orders  as  he  understood  them ; 
and  with  the  ready  absent  of  his  companions,  who  were  bent  on 
straitening  the  English  to  the  utmost,  it  was  upon  the  eminence 
nearest  Boston  and  best  suited  to  annoy  the  town  and  shipping 
in  the  harbor  that,  under  the  light  of  the  stars,  the  engineer 
drew  the  lines  of  a  redoubt  of  nearly  eight  rods  square.     The 


bells  of  Boston  h;id  stnick  twelve  before  the  iirst  sod 


was 


^■'    i: 


til 

i          1 

j 

i     1 

^-   •  '   i   : 

1:!^!.", 

.     '    '       i 

k          i                  '! 

■     ■'  S 

.!■   !  i 

-. 

'i..^ 

k 

I 


I 


I 

i 


iM 


216         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Ep.  iir. ;  oil.  XIV. 


thrown  up.  Tlicn  every  man  of  the  thousand  plied  in  his 
turn  the  pickaxe  and  spade,  and  with  such  expedition  that  the 
parapet  sodu  assumed  form  and  lieight,  and  capacity  for  de- 
fence. "We  shall  keep  our  ground,"  thus  Prescott  related 
that  he  silently  revolved  his  position,  "  if  soirie  screen,  how- 
ever sliglit,  can  be  completed  before  discovery."  The  Lively 
lay  in  the  ferry  between  Boston  and  Charlestown,  and  a  little 
to  the  eastward  were  moored  the  Falcon,  sloop-of-war,  and  the 
Somerset,  a  ship  of  the  line ;  tlie  veteran  not  o'li;-  ^et  a  watch 
to  patrol  the  shore,  but,  bending  his  ear  to  cvci^'"'  j  nid,  twice 
repaired  to  the  margin  of  the  water,  where  he  hcaid  die  drowsy 
sentinels  from  the  decks  of  the  men-of-war  still  crv  •  "  All  is 
well."  "^  ■ 

The  few  hours  that  remained  of  darlmcss  hurried  away, 
but  not  till  "  the  lino  of  cireumvallatlon  was  already  closed'."' 
As  day  dawned,  the  seamen  were  roused  to  action  ;  and  every 
one  in  Boston  was  startled  from  slumber  by  the  cannon  of  the 
Lively  playing  upon  the  redoubt.  Citizens  of  the  town,  and 
British  otlicerc,,  and  tory  refugees,  the  kindred  of  the  insur- 
gents, crowded  to  gaze  with  wonder  and  surprise  at  the  small 
fortress  of  earth  freshly  thrown  up,  and  "the  rel)cls,"  who  were 
still  plainly  scon  at  tlieir  toil.  A  Ixittery  of  heavy  guns  was 
forthwith^  mounted  on  Copp's  Hill,  which  was  directly  oppo- 
site at  a  dist  ince  of  but  twelve  hundred  yards,  and  an  incessant 
shower  of  shot  and  bombs  was  rained  upon  the  works ;  but 
Prescott,  whom  Gridley  had  forsaken,  calmly  considered  how 
he  could  best  continue  his  line  of  defence. 

At  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  the  north  Avas  a  slough,  beyond 
which  an  elevated  tongue  of  land,  having  few  trees,  covered 
chiefly  Avnth  grass,  and  intersected  by  fences,  stretched  away  to 
the  Mystic.  Witliout  the  aid  of  an  engineer,  Prescott  himself 
extended  his  line  from  the  east  side  of  the  redoubt  northerly 
for  about  twenty  rods  toward  the  bottom  of  the  iiill ;  but  the 
men  were  prevented  from  completing  it  "  by  the  intolerable 
fire  of  the  enemy."  Still,  the  cannonade  from  the  battery  and 
shipping  could  not  dislodge  them,  though  it  was  a  severe  trial 
to  raw  soldiers,  unaccustomed  to  the  noise  of  artillery.  Early 
in  the  day  a  private  was  killed  and  buried.  To  inspire  confi- 
dence, Prescott  mounted   the  parapet   and  walked   leisurely 


W' 


1775.  BUNKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.     217 

backward  and  forward,  examining  t]ic  works  and  giving  di- 
rections. One  of  liis  captains,  perceiving  his  motive,  inii?ated 
his  example.  From  Boston,  Gage  witli  his  telescope  descried 
the  commander  of  the  party.  "Will  he  fight?"  asked  the 
general  of  Willard,  Prescott's  brother-in-law,  late  a  mandamus 
councillor,  who  was  at  his  side.  "To  the  last  drop  of  his 
blood,"  answered  Willard.  As  the  Ihdtish  generals  saw  that 
every  hour  gave  fresh  strength  to  the  intreuchments  of  the 
Americans,  by  nine  o'clock  they  deemed  it  necessary  to  alter 
the  plan  previously  agreed  upon,  and  to  make  the  attack  im- 
mediately on  the  side  that  could  be  soonest  reached. 

The  day  was  one  of  the  hottest  of  the  season.     After  their 
fatigues  through  the  night,  the  American  partisans  might  all 
have  pleaded  their  unfitness  for  action  ;  some  left  the  post,  and 
the  field  officers,  Bridge  and  Brickett,  being  indisposed,  could 
render  their  counnander  but  Httle  service.     Yet  Prescott  was 
dismayed  neither  by  weariness  nor  desertion.     "  Let  us  never 
consent  to  being  rehevcd,"  said  he  to  his  own  regiment,  and 
to  all  who  remained ;  "  these  are  the  works  of  our  hands,  to  us 
be  the  honor  of  defending  them."     He  despatched  repeated 
messengers  for  re-enforcements  and  provisions ;  but  at  the  hour 
of  noon  no  assistance  had  appeared.     His  men  had  toiled  all 
the  night  long,  had  broken  their  fast  only  with  what  they  had 
brought  in  their  knapsacks  the  evening  before,  had,  under  a 
burning  sky,  without  shade,  amid  a  storm  of  shot  and  shells, 
continued  their  labor  all  the  morning,  and  wore  now  preparing 
for  a  desperate  encounter  with  a  vastly  superior  force  ;  yet  no 
refreshments  were  sent  them,  and  during  the  M-hole  day  they 
received  not  even  a  cup  of  cold  water,  nor  so  much  as  a  single 
gill  of  powder.     The  agony  of  suspense  was  now  the  greater, 
because  no  more  work  could  be  done  in  the  trenches ;  the  tools 
were  piled  up  in  the  rear,  and  the  men  were  waiting,  unem- 
ployed, till  the  fightii.g  should  begin. 

The  second  messenger  from  Prescott,  on  his  Avay  to  the 
head-quarters  at  Cambridge,  was  met  by  Putnam,  who  wn^ 
hasteniug  to  Charlestown.  The  brigadier  seems  to  have  seen 
that  the  successful  defence  of  the  peninsula  required  intreuch- 
ments on  the  summit  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  therefore  rode  up 
to  the  redoubt  on  Breed's  Hill,  where  he  did  not  appear  again 


■I      ('. 


!■       J    ,      'I 


'tW''' .jua 


~mr~T'-rT-t— nil 


i 

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I'll 


218  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xiv. 

during  tlic  wliolo  day,  and  asked  of  Prcpcott  "  that  tlio  in- 
trenching  tools  might  be  sent  oil."  It  was  done ;  but,  of  the 
largo  party  that  took  them  away,  few  returned ;  and  Putnam 
found  no  leisure  to  fortify  the  crown  of  tlie  higlie*  hill. 

To  abundant  equipments  of  every  kind  the  British  troops 
in  Eoston,  thougli  hi  number  hardly  more  than  five  thousand 
effective  men,  added  cxporienco  and  exact  discipline.     Taking 
advantage  of  higli  water,  the  Glasgow  sloop-of-war  and  two 
floating  batteries  had  l^eo'n  moored  where  their  guns  raked  the 
isthmus  of  Charlestown.     Between  the  honi's  of  twelve  and 
one,  by  order  of  General  Gage,  boats  and  barges,  manned  l)y 
oars,  all  plainly  visible  to  Prcscott  and  his  men,  bore  over  the 
unruffled  sheet  of  water  from  Long  Whai-f  to  Moulton's  Point 
in  Charlestown  the  fifth,  the  thirty-eighth,  the  forty-third,  and 
the  fifty-second  regiments  of  infantry,  with  ten  companies  of 
grenadiers,  ten  of  llglit  infantry,  and  a  proi)ortion  of  field  artil- 
lery—in all  about  two  thousand  men.     They  were  commanded 
by  Major-Gcneral  Howe,  who  was  assisted  by  Brigadier-General 
Pigot.      It  wa3  noticed  that  Percy,  pleading  illness,  let  his 
regiment  go  without  him.     The  British  landed  under  co  or  of 
the  shipping,  on  tlie  outward  side  of  the  peninsula,  near  the 
Mystic,  with  a  view  to  outflank  the  American  party,  surround 
them,  and  make  prisoners  of  the  whole  d::tachmGnt. 

The  way  along  tiic  banks  of  the  river  to  Prescott's  rear  lay 
open ;  he  had  remaining  with  him  but  about  seven  or  eight 
hundred  men,  worn  with  toil  and  watching  and  hunger ;  he 
knew  not  how  many  were  co^^ning  against  him  ;  his  flank  was 
unprotected  ;  ho  saw  no  signs  of  ro-cnforconionts  ;  the  enemy 
had  the  opportunity  to  surround  and  crush  his  little  band. 
"Never  were  men  placed  in  a  more  dangerous  position."  But 
Howe,  who  was  of  a  sluggish  temperament,  halted  on  the  first 
rising  ground  and  sent  back  for  more  troops. 

When  Prcscott  perceived  the  British  begin  to  land  on  the 
point  east  by  north  from  the  fort,  he  made  the  best  disposition 
of  his  scanty  force,  ordering  the  train  of  artillery  with  two 
field-pieces,  and  the  Connecticut  forces  under  Knowlton,  "  to 
go  and  oppose  them." 

About  two  hundred  yards  in  the  roar  of  the  unfinished 
breastwork  a  fence  with  two  rails,  of  which  the  posts  were  set 


1775.  BUn'KER  hill,  the  seventeenth  of  JUNE  1775.    019 

in  a  low  stone  wal  ,  extended  for  tlirco  liundred  yards  or  moro 
toward  the  Mystic.  The  mowers  had  but  the  day  before  passed 
over  the  meadows,  and  the  grass  lay  on  the  ground  in  cocks 
and  windrows.  There  the  men  of  Connecticut,  in  pursuance 
of  Prescott's  order,  took  their  station.  Nature  had  provided 
"something  of  a  breastwork,"  or  a  ditch  had  been  dug  many 
years  befoi-e.  They  grounded  arms  and  made  a  slight  fortifi- 
cation against  musket-balls  by  interweaving  the  newly  mown 
grass  between  the  vails,  and  by  carrying  forward  a  post  and 
rail-fence  alongside  of  the  first,  and  piling  the  fresh  hay  be- 
tween the  two.  But  the  line  of  defence  was  still  very  far 
from  complete.  Nearer  the  water  the  bank  was  smooth  and 
without  obstruction,  declining  gently  for  sixty  or  eighty  yards, 
where  it  fell  oE  abruptly.  Eetween  the  rail-fence  and  the  un- 
finished breastwork  the  space  was  open,  and  remained  so ;  the 
slough  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  guarded  a  part  of  the  distance ; 
nearly  a  hundred  yards  were  left  almost  wholly  unprotected. 

Ih-ooks,  afterward  governor  of  Massachusetts,  one  of  Pres- 
cott's messengers,  had  no  mode  of  reaching  head-quarters  but 
on  foot.  Tie  found  the  general  anxious  and  per])lexed.  AVard 
saw  the  imprudence  of  risking  a  battle  for  which  the  vsmy 
was  totally  unprepared.  To  the  committee  of  safety,  which 
was  in  session,  the  connnittec  of  supplies  expn  od  its  concern 
at  the  "  expenditure  of  powder ; "  "  any  great  consumption  by 
cannon  might  be  ruinous ; ''  and  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Americans, 
with  incomplete  companies  composed  of  "  raw,  irregular,  and 
undisciplined  troops,"  enlisted  chiefly  within  six  weeks,  com- 
manded, many  of  them,  by  untried  oflicers,  gathered  from  four 
separate  colonies,  with  no  reciprocal  subordination  but  from 
courtesy  and  opinion,  after  collecting  all  the  annnunition  thit 
could  be  obtained  north  of  the  Delaware,  had  in  the  magazine 
for  an  army,  engaged  in  a  siege  and  preparing  for  a  tight,  no 
more  than  twenty-seven  half-barrels  of  powder,  with  a  gift 
from  Connecticut  of  thirty-six  half  barrels  more. 

Ward  determined,  if  possible,  to  avoid  a  general  action. 
Apprehending  that,  if  re-enforcements  should  leave  his  camp, 
the  main  attack  of  the  British  would  be  made  upon  Cambridge, 
he  refused  to  impair  his  strength  at  head-quarters ;  but  he  or- 
dered the  New  Hampshire  regiments  of  Stark,  stationed  at 


V  'i 


•  i 


l\ 


4  *'|it 


220 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKXCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  XIV, 


IModford,  and  of  Eccd,  near  Cliarlestown  iifck,  to  march  to 
Prcseott'8  support. 

When  word  was  brought  tliat  the  British  were  actually 
landing  in  (^larlestown,  the  general  regarded  it  as  a  feint,  and 
still  refusi-d  to  change  his  ])lan.     But  the  zeal  of  individuals 
admitted  of  no  control.     The  welcome  intelligence  that  the 
British  had  nchially  sallied  out  of  Boston  thrillefl  through  men 
who  were  "  waiting  impatiently  to  avenge  the  blood  of  their 
murdered  countrymen."     Owing  to  the  want  of  activity  in 
Ward,  who  did  not  leave  his  house  during  the  whole  day,  all 
method  was  wanting ;  but,  while  the  bells  were  ringing  and 
the  drums  beating  to  arms,  officers  who  had  lon^-ed  iov  the 
opportunity  of  meeting  the  British  in  battle,  soldiers  who 
clung  to  the  officers  of  their  choice  with  constancy,  set  off  for 
the  scene  of  battle,  hardly  knowing  themselves  M-hether  they 
wore  countenanced  by  the  general,  or  the  committee  of  safety, 
or  the  council  of  war;  or  moved  by  the  same  impetuous  en- 
thusiasm which  had  brought  them  forth  on  the  nineteenth  of 
April,  and  which  held  "an  honorable  death  in  the  held  for  the 
liberties  of  all  America  preferable  to  an  ignominious  slavery." 
The  septuagenarian  Seth  Pomeroy  of  Northampton   was 
roused  by  the   continuance   of  the  cannonade,  and  rode   to 
Charlestown   neck;   there,   thoughtful   for  his   horse,  which 
was  a  borrowed  one,  he  shouldered  his  fowling-piece,  marched 
over  on  foot,  and,  amid  loud  cheers  of  welcome,  took  a  place 
at  the  rail-fence. 

Joseph  Warren,  after  discharging  his  duty  in  the  commit- 
tee of  safety,  resolved  to  take  part  in  tlie  battle.     He  was  en- 
treated by  Elbridge  Gerry  not  thus  f^  -vpose  his  life.     "  It  is 
sweet  and  becoming  to  die  for  one's        atrv,"  was  his  answer. 
Three  days  before,  he  had  been  elec ;      a  provincial  major-gen- 
eral.    He  know  the  defects  of  the  American  camp,  the  danger 
of  the  intrenched  party,  and  how  the  character  of  his  countV 
men  and  the  interests  of  mankind  hung  in  suspense  on  the 
conduct  of  that  day.     About  two  o'clock  he  crossed  Bunker 
Hill  unattended,  and  with  a  musket  in  his  hand.     He  stood 
for  a  short  time  near  a  cannon  at  the  rail-fence  in  conversation 
with  Putnam,  who  was  ready  to  receive  his  orders;  but  War- 
ren declined  to  assume  authority,  and  passed  on  to  the  redoubtj 


1776.  BUNKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1776.     221 

wliero  the  chief  attack  was  expected.  There  Prcscott  pro- 
posed tliat  lio  sliould  take  tlio  command  ;  but  ho  answered  as 
he  had  done  to  Putnam  :  "  I  come  as  a  vohintucr,  to  leani  from 
a  soldier  of  experience ;"  and  in  choosing  his  station  he  looked 
only  for  the  place  of  danger  and  importance. 

Of  the  men  of  Essex  who  formed  Little's  rogiment,  full 
a  hundred  and  twenty-five  hastened  to  the  aid  of  Prcscott ; 
Worcester  and  Middlesex  furnislied  more  than  seventy  from 
Brewer's  regiment,  and  with  them  the  prudent  and  fearless 
■William  Euckminstcr  of  Barro,  their  lieutenant-colonel.  From 
the  same  connties  came  above  fifty  more,  under  John  Nixon 
of  Sudbury.  Willard  Moore  of  Paxton,  a  man  of  superior 
endowments,  led  about  forty  of  Worcester  county ;  from  tho 
regiment  of  Whitcomb  of  Lancaster,  tlici'o  appoared  at  least 
fifty  privates,  but  with  no  higher  otticers  than  captains.  Not 
more  than  six  light  field-pieces  were  brought  upon  the  ground ; 
and  these,  from  want  of  amnumition,  were  scarcely  used. 

At  the  rail-fence  there  were,  as  yet,  but  the  Conneoticut 
men  whom  Prcscott  had  detached.  The  two  field-pieces  had 
been  deserted  by  tho  artillerymen.  After  the  British  had 
landed,  and  just  before  they  advanced,  a  party  of  New  Hamp- 
shire levies  arrived,  conducted  by  Colonel  John  Stark,  who, 
next  to  Prcscott,  brought  the  largest  number  of  men  into  the 
field.  When  they  came  to  the  isthnms,  which  was  ralced  by 
cannon,  Dearborn,  one  of  his  captains  v/ho  walked  by  his  side, 
advised  a  quick  step.  "  One  fresh  man  in  action  is  worth  ten 
fatigued  ones,"  replied  Stark ;  and  ho  marched  leisurely  across 
Charlestown  neck  through  the  galling  fire.  The  mgged  trap- 
per was  as  calm  as  though  he  had  been  hunting  in  his  native 
woods.  At  a  glance  upon  the  beacli  along  Mystic  river,  "  I 
saw  there,"  ho  related,  "  tl.e  way  so  plain  that  the  enemy  could 
not  miss  it."  While  some  of  his  men  continued  the  line  or 
defence  by  ctill  weaving  grass  between  the  rails,  others,  at  Jiis 
bidding,  leaped  down  the  bank,  and,  with  stones  from  adjacent 
walls,  threw  up  a  breastwork  to  the  water's  edge.  Behind  this, 
and  wholly  exposed  on  the  side  of  the  water,  he  posted  triple 
ranks  of  his  men ;  the  rest  knelt  or  lay  down.  The  time  al- 
lowed him  no  opportunity  of  consulting  with  Prcscott ;  tliey 
fought  independently ;  Prescott  to  defend  tho  redoubt,  Kuowl- 


H  f 


i      ■,! 


'  Ul, 


I  •'    ill 


222         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKNCE.      kp.  m.;  en.  x,v. 

ton  and   Stark,  with   Rood's   rcgim-nt,  to  protect  its  Hank. 
ThcHo  uro  all  who  arrived  before  the  bcjjfiMnin^'  of  the  attack ; 
and  not  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  others  of  various  regi- 
ments, led  by  dilTerent  officers  or  driven  by  their  own  zeal, 
reached  the  battle-ground  before  the  retreat.     Froin  liret  to 
la.st  I'utiunn  took  an  active  interest  in  the  exiK-dition  ;  and  the 
nppointinent  of  Prescutt  to  its  coinniand  was  made  with  his 
concurrence.     Without   interfering  with   that  connnand,  ho 
was  now   planiu'ng  additional  works  on   Bunker  Hill,  now 
mingling  with  the  Connecticut  troops  at  the  rail-fence,  now 
threatening  olHcers  or  men  who  seemed  to  him  dilatory  or 
timid,  now  at  Cambridge  in  person,  or  again  by  messaf^e,  de- 
manding re-enforcements,  ever  engaged  in  aiding  and  tMicom-- 
aging  hero  and  there,  as  the  case  required.     After  the  first 
landing  of  the  British,  ho  sent  orders  by  his  son  to  the  Con- 
necticut forces  at  Caud)ridgo,  "  that  they  must  all  meet  and 
march   innnediately  to  l]unkcr  Hill  to  oppose  the  enemy." 
Chester  and  his  company  ran  for  their  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  marched  with  such  alacrity  that  they  reached  the  battle- 
ground before  the  day  wus  decided. 

While  the  camp  at  Cambridge  was  the  scene  of  confusion, 
Ilowe  caused  refreshments  to  be  distributed  abundantly  among 
liis  troops.  The  re-enforcements  which  he  had  demanded  ar- 
rived, consisting  of  several  more  companies  of  light  infantry 
and  grenadiers,  the  forty-seventh  regiment,  and  a  battalion  of 
maiines.  "  The  whole,"  wrote  Gage,  "  made  a  body  of  some- 
thing above  two  thousand  men;"  "about  two  thousand  men 
and  two  battalions  to  re-enforce  him,"  wrote  Burgoyne  ;  "  near 
upon  three  thousand,"  thought  very  accurate  observers,  and  a 
corps  of  five  regiments,  one  battalion,  and  twenty  flank  com- 
panies, more  than  seventy  companies,  must,  after  all  allow- 
ances, be  reckoned  at  two  thonsand  five  hundred  men  or  moro. 
It  comprised  the  chief  strength  of  the  army. 

Not  till  the  news  reached  Cambridge  of  this  second  land- 
ing at  Cluirlestown  was  Ward  relieved  from  the  api^rebcnsion 
that  the  main  body  of  the  British  would  interpose  themselves 
between  Charlestown  and  Cambridge.  Persuaded  of  the  se- 
curity of  the  camp,  and  roused  by  the  earnest  entreaties  of 
Devcns  of  Charlestown,  himself  a  member  of  the  committee 


V    " 


1778.  HUNKKIl  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1773.    223 

of  Hiifoty,  Ward  consented  to  order  rc-enforcenieutft,  anioii<r 
tliem  his  own  regiment ;  but  it  was  too  hte.  Tiie  whole  Tuinr- 
ber  of  Anierieand  in  thu  battle,  incliidinnr  all  such  as  crossed 
the  causeway  Keasonal)ly  to  take  part  in  the  fight,  according  to 
the  most  solemn  assurancoo  of  the  olHcerq  who  were  in  the 
action,  to  the  testimony  of  eye-witnesses,  to  contemporary  in- 
quirers, and  to  tlie  carefully  considered  judgment  of  Wasliin^"-- 
ton,  did  not  exceed  one  thousand  live  hundred  men. 

Nor  shouhl  history  forgot  to  record  that,  as  in  the  army  at 
Cambridge,  so  also  in  this  gallant  baud,  the  free  negroes  of  the 
colony  had  their  reprcsuntatives ;  for  the  right  of  free  negroes 
to  boar  arms  in  the  j)ublic  defencj  was  at  that  day  not  dis- 
piited  in  New  England.  They  took  their  place  in  tho  ranks 
with  white  ?uen  ;  aiul  their  nameo  may  be  read  on  the  pension 
rolls  of  the  country,  side  by  side  with  thooO  of  other  soldiers 
of  the  revolution. 

Two  days  after  the  expedition  to  Concord,  Gage  had  threat- 
ened that  if  the  Americans  should  occupy  Charlestown  heights 
the  town  t-hou'd  be  burnt.  Its  inhabitants,  however,  hatf  al- 
ways been  willing  that  the  threat  should  be  disregarded.  Tho 
time  for^  the  holocaust  was  couie.  Pretending  that  his  flank- 
ing parties  were  annoyed  from  houses  in  the  village,  Howe 
sent  a  boat  over  with  a  request  to  Clinton  and  Burgoyno  to 
burn  it.  The  order  was  innnediatcly  obeyed  by  a  discharo-e 
of  shells  from  Coi)p's  Hill.  The  inllammable  buildings  caught 
in  an  instant,  and  a  party  of  men  landed  and  spread  the  lire ; 
but,  from  a  sudden  shifting  of  the  wind,  the  movements  of  tho 
British  were  not  covered  by  tho  smoke  of  the  conflagration. 

At  half  past  two  o'clock,  or  a  very  little  later,  General 
Howe,  not  coniining  his  attack  to  tho  left  wing  alone,  ad- 
vanced to  a  simultaneous  assault  on  the  whole  front  from  tho 
redoubt  to  IMystic  nvcr.  In  Eurgoyne's  opinion,  "  his  dispo- 
sition was  soldier-like  and  perfect."  Of  the  two  columns 
which  were  put  in  motion,  the  one  was  led  by  Pigot  against 
the  redoubt,  the  other  by  Howe  liimsclf  against  the  flank, 
which  t^eemcd  protected  by  nothing  but  a  fence  of  rails  and 
hay  easy  to  be  serambknl  over,  so  that  Prescott,  when  his  left 
should  be  turned,  would  find  tho  enemy  in  his  rear,  and  bo 
forced  to  surrender. 


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224         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Ep.  Ill,;  en. XIV. 


As  they  began  to  march,  the  battery  on  Cojip's  Hill,  from 
which  Clinton  and  Burgoyne  were  wateliing  every  movement, 
kept  up  an  incessant  iire,  which  was  seconded  by  tlie  Falcon 
and  the  Lively,  the  Somerset  and  the  two  floating  batteries ; 
the  town  of  Charlestown,  consisting  of  Ave  hnndrcd  edifices  of 
wood,  burst  into  a  blaze ;  and  the  steeple  of  its  only  church 
became  a  pyramid  of  fire.  All  the  while  the  masts  of  the 
shipping  and  the  heights  of  the  British  camp,  the  church- 
towers,  the  house-tops  of  a  populous  town,  and  the  acclivities 
of  the  surrounding  country,  were  crowded  with  spectators  to 
watch  the  battle  which  was  to  take  place  in  full  sight  on  a 
conspicuous  eminence. 

As  soon  as  Prescott  perceived  that  the  enemy  were  in  mo- 
tion, he  commanded  Bobinson,  his  lieutenant-colonel,  the  same 
who  conducted  himself  so  bravely  in  the  fight  at  Concord,  and 
Henry  Woods,  his  mUjur,  famed  in  the  villages  of  Middlesex 
for  ability  and  patriotism,  with  separate  detachments  to  flank 
the  enemy  ;  and  they  executed  his  orders  with  prudence  and 
daring.  He  then  went  through  the  works  to  encourage  and 
animate  his  inexperienced  soldiers.  "  The  redcoats  will  never 
reach  the  redonl)t,"  such  were  his  words,  as  he  himself  used  to 
narrate  them,  "  if  you  will  but  withhold  your  fire  till  I  give 
the  order,  and  be  careful  not  to  shoot  over  their  heads."  After 
this  round  he  took  his  post  in  the  redoubt,  well  satisfied  that 
the  men  would  do  their  duty. 

The  British  advanced  in  line  in  good  order,  steadily  and 
slowly,  pausing  on  the  march  for  their  artillery  to  prepare  the 
way,  and  firing  with  muskets  as  they  advanced!^  But  they  fired 
too  soon  and  too  high,  doing  but  little  injury. 

Encumbered  with  their  knapsacks,  they  ascended  the  steep 
hill  with  difficulty,  covered  as  it  u-as  with  grass  reaching  to 
their  knees,  and  intersected  with  walls  and  fences.  Prescott 
waited  till  the  enemy  had  ai)proaclied  within  eight  rods  as  he 
afterward  thought,  within  ten  or  twelve  rods  as  the  committee 
of  safety  of  Massachusetts  wrote,  when  he  gave  the  word : 
"  Fire !  "  At  once,  from  the  redoubt  and  breastwork,  every 
gun  was  discharged.  Nearly  the  whole  front  rank  of  the 
enemy  fell,  and  the  rest,  to  Avhom  this  determined  resistance 
was  unexpected,  were  brought  to  a  stand.     For  a  few  minutes, 


1775.  BUNKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.    225 

fifteen  or  ten-who  can  count  such  minutes  !-each  one  of  tlie 
Americans,  completely  covered  while  he  loaded  his  musket 
exposed  only  while  he  stood  upon  the  wooden  platform  o; 
steps  of  earth  m  the  redoubt  to  take  aim,  fought  according?  to 
his  own  judgment  and  will;  and  a  close  and  unremitting  fire 
was  contmued  and  returned,  till  the  British  staggered,  wavered, 
and  then,  in  disordered  masses,  retreated  precipitately  to  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  and  some  even  to  their  boats 

The  column  of  the  enemy,  which  advanced  near  the  Mystic 
under  the  lead  of  Howe,  moved  gallantly  against  tbe  rail-fence, 
and,  when  witmn  eighty  or  one  hundred  yards,  displayed  into 
line  with  the  precision  of  troops  on  parade.     Here,  too,  the 
Americans,  commanded  by  Stark  and  Knowlton,  cheered  on 
by  Futnam,  who  Hke  Prescott  bade  them  reserve  their  fire 
restrained  themselves  as  if  by  universal  consent,  till  at  the 
proper  moment,  resting  their  guns  on  the  rails  of  the  fence 
they  poured  forth  a  deliberate,  well-directed,  fatal  discharge- 
here,  too,  the  British  recoiled  from  the  volley,  and,  after  a  short 
contest    Avere  thrown  into  confusion,  sounded  a  retreat,  and 
tell  back  till  they  were  covered  by  the  ground. 

Then  followed  moments  of  joy  in  that  mifinishcd  redoubt, 
and  behind  the  grassy  rampart,  M-here  New  England  husl)and- 
men  beheld  veteran  battalions  shrink  before  their  arms.  Their 
hearts  bounded  as  they  congratulated  each  other.  The  ni-ht- 
watches,  thirst,  hunger,  danger  whether  of  captivity  or  death 
were  forgotten.     They  promised  themselves  victory. 

As  the  British  soldiers  retreated,  the  officci ^  Mere  seen,  by 
tiie  spectators  on  the  opposite  shore,  mnning  down  to  them 
using  passionate  gestures,  and  pushing  them  forward  with  their 
swords     After  an   interval  of  about  fifteen  minutes,  during 
which  Prescott  moved  round  among  his  men,  cheering  them 
with  praise,  the  British  column  under  Pigot  rallied  and  ad- 
vanced, though  witii  apparent  reluctance,  in  the  same  order  as 
belore    firing  as  they  approached  within  musket-shot.     This 
time_  the  Americans  withheld  their  fire  till  the  enemy  were 
within  SIX  or  five  rods  of  the  redoubt,  when,  as  the  order  was 
pven,  It  seemed  more  fatal  than  before.     The  enemy  continued 
to  discharge  their  guns,  an<l  pressed  forward  with  snirit     "  But 
from  the  whole  American  line  there  was,"  said  Prescott,  "a 

TOL.    IV. — 15 


ihlll 


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226 


AMEPwICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.  :  en.  xiv. 


continuous  stream  of  fire 


and  though 


the  British  officers 


exposed  themselves  fearlessly,  remonstrating,  threatening,  and 
even  striking  the  soldiers  to  urge  them  on,  they  could  not  reach 
the  redoubt,  but  in  a  few  moments  gave  way  in  greater  disor- 
der than  before.  The  wounded  and  the  dead  covered  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  works,  some  lying  within  a  few  yards 
of  them. 

On  the  flank  the  British  light  infantry  again  marched  up 
its  companies  against  the  grasa-fence,  but  could  not  jicnetrate 
it.  "Indeed,"  wrote  some  of  the  survivors,  "how  could  we 
penetrate  it  ?  Most  of  our  grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  the 
moment  of  presenting  themselves,  lost  three  fourths,  and 
many  nine  tenths  of  their  men.  Some  had  only  eight  or  nine 
men  in  a  company  left,  some  only  three,  four,  or  live."  On 
the  ground  where  but  the  r^ay  before  the  mowers  had  swung 
the  scythe  in  peace,  "  the  dead,"  relates  Stark,  "  lay  as  thick  as 
sheep  in  a  fold."  Howe  for  a  few  seconds  was  left  nearly 
alone,  so  many  of  the  officers  about  him  having  been  killed  or 
wounded ;  and  it  required  the  utmost  exertion  of  all,  from  the 
generals  down  to  the  subalterns,  to  repair  the  rout. 

At  intervals,  the  artillery  from  the  ships  and  batteries  was 
playing,  while  the  flames  were  rising  over  the  town  of  Charles- 
town  and  laying  waste  the  places  of  the  graves  of  its  fathers, 
and  streets  were  falling  together,  and  ships  at  the  yards  were 
crashing  on  the  stocks,  and  the  kindred  of  the  Americans,  from 
the  fields  and  hills  and  house-tops  around,  Avatched  every  gal- 
lant act  of  their  defenders,  "  The  whole,"  wrote  Burgoyne, 
"was  a  complication  of  horror  and  importance  beyond  any- 
thing it  ever  came  to  my  lot  to  be  witness  to.  It  was  a  sight 
for  a  young  soldier  that  the  longest  service  may  not  furnish 
again." 

"  If  we  drive  them  back  once  more,"  cried  Prescott,  "  they 
cannot  rally  again."  To  the  husbandmen  about  him  the  ter- 
rible and  appalling  scene  was  altogether  new,  and  not  one  of 
them  shrunk  from  duty.  "We  are  ready  for  the  redcoats 
again,"  they  shouted,  cheering  their  connnander. 

In  the  longer  interval  that  preceded  the  third  attack,  a 
council  of  officers  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  ammunition  was 
ahnost  exhausted.     Though  Prescott  had  sent  in  the  morning 


1775.  BUNKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.    227 

for  a  supply,  lie  had  received  none,  and  there  were  not  fifty 
bayonets  in  his  party.     A  few  artillery  cartridges  were  dis- 
covered, and,  as  the  last  resonrce,  the  powder  in  them  was  dis 
tributed,  with  the  direction  that  not  a  kernel  of  it  should  be 
wasted. 

The  royal  army,  exasperated  at  retreating  before  an  enemy 
whom  they  had  professed  to  despise,  and  by  the  sight  of  many 
hundreds  of  their  men  who  lay  dead  or  bleeding  on  the  -round 
prepared  to  renew  the  engagement.     While  the  light  infantry 
and  a  part  ot  the  grenadiers  were  left  to  continue  the  attac^   -ft 
the  rail-fence,  Howe  concentrated  the  rest  of  his  forces  urou 
the  redoubt.     Cannon  were  brought  to  bear  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  rake  the  inside  of  the  breastwork  from  one  end  of  it  to 
the  other  so  that  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  crowd  within 
their  fort.     Ihen  the  British  troops,  having  disencumbered 
themselves  of  their  knapsacks,  advanced  in  column  with  fixed 
bayonets     Clinton,  who  from  Copp's  Hill  had  watched  the 
battle,  at  this  critical  moment,  without  orders,  pushed  off  in 
a  boat  and  put  himself  at  the  head  of  two  battalions    the 
marines  and  tlie  forty-seventh,  which  seemed  to  hesitate  on 
the  beach  as  if  uncertain  what  to  do.     These  formed  the  ex 
treme  left  of  the  British,  and  advanced  from  the  south ;  the 
fifth,  the  thirty-eighth,  and  forty-third  battalions  formed  the 
centre,  and  attacked  from  the  east ;   on  their  right  was  the 
fifty-second  with  grenadiers,  who  forced  the  now  deserted  in- 
trenchments. 

The  Americans  within  the  redoubt,  attacked  at  once  on 
three  sides  by  six  battalions,  at  that  time  numbered  less  than 
seven  hundred  men.     Of  these,  some  had  no  more  than  one 
none  more  than  four  rounds  of  ammunition  left     But  Pres' 
cott  s  self-possession  increased  with  danger.     He  directed  his 
men  to  wait  till  the  enemy  were  within  twenty  yards,  when 
tiiey  poured  upon  them  a  deadly  volley.     The  Bi-itisli  wavered 
tor  an  instant,  and  then  sprang  forward  without  returnin  ^  the 
T^  T.     -^  ^"^'^r^''^"  ^'-^  slackened,  and  began  to  die  away, 
i  le  British  readied  the  rampart  on  the  southern  side.     Those 
^-fio  first  scaled  the  parapet  were  shot  down  as  they  mounted 
Pitcairn  fell  mortnlly  wounded,  ju.t  as  he  was  entering  the 
redoubt.     A  single  artillery  cartridge  furnished  powder  for 


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228         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. :  CU.  XIV. 


tlie  last  muskets  which  the  Americans  fired.     The  breastwork 
being  abandoned,  the  ammunition  expended,  the  redoubt  half 
filled  with  regulars,  at  a  little  before  four  Prescott,  on  the 
point  of  being  surrounded,  gave  the  word  to  retreat.     He  him- 
self Avas  among  the  last  to  leave  the  fort,  esc -.ping  unhurt, 
though  with  coat  and  waistcoat  rent  and  pierced  by  bayonets, 
which  he  parried  with  his  sword.     The  men,  retiring  through 
the  sally-port  or  leaping  over  the  walls,  made  their  way  through 
their  enemies,  each  for  himself,  without  much  order,  and  the 
dust  which  rose  from  the  dry  earth  now  powdered  in  the  sun, 
and  the  smoke  of  the  engagement,  gave  them  some  covering. 
The  British,  who  had  turned  the  north-eastern  end  of  the 
breastwork,  and  had  come  round  the  angle  of  the  redoubt, 
were  too  much  exhausted  to  use  the  bayonet  against  them 
with  vigor,  and  at  first  the  parties  were  so  closely  intermingled 
as  to  interrupt  the  firing ;  a  sujjply  of  ball  for  the  artillery, 
sent  from  Boston  during  the  battle,  was  too  large  for  the  field- 
pieces  which  accompanied  the  detachment. 

The  brave  men  of  the  redoubt  would  have  been  eHectually 
cut  off  but  for  the  provincials  at  the  rail-fence  and  the  bank  of 
the  Mystic,  who  had  repulsed  the  enemy  twice,  and  now  held 
them  in  check  till  the  main  body  had  left  the  hill.  Xot  till 
then  did  the  Connecticut  companies  under  Knowlton,  and  the 
New  Hampshire  soldiers  under  Stark,  quit  the  station,  Avhich 
they  had  "  nobly  defended."  The  retreat  was  made  with  more 
regularity  than  could  have  been  expected  of  troojjs  who  had 
been  for  so  short  a  time  under  discipHne,  and  of  whom  many 
had  ne^er  before  seen  an  engagement.  Trevett  and  his  men 
drew  off  the  only  field-piece  that  was  saved.  The  musket  of 
Pomeroy  was  struck  and  marked  by  a  ball.  The  redoubt,  the 
brow  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  the  passage  across  the  Charlestown 
causeway,  were  the  principal  places  of  slaughter. 

Putnam,  at  the  third  onset,  was  absent,  "  employed  in  col- 
lecting mnn  "  for  re-enforcements,  and  was  encountered  by  the 
retreating  party  on  the  northern  declivity  of  Bunker  Hill. 
Acting  on  his  own  responsibility,  he  now  for  the  first  time 
during  the  day  assumed  the  supreme  direction.  Without  or- 
ders from  any  person,  he  rallied  such  of  the  fugitives  as  would 
obey  him,  joined  them  to  a  detachment  which  had  not  arrived 


1775.  BUifKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEEXTII  CF  JUNE  1775.    229 

in  season  to  share  in  the  combat,  and  took  possession  of  Pros- 
pect IliJI,  where  he  encamped  that  very  night. 

Repairing  to  head-quarters,  Prescott  offered  witli  three  fresh 
regiments  to  recover  his  post ;  but  for  himself  he  sought  neither 
promotion  nor  praise,  and,  having  performed  the  best  service 
never  thought  that  he  had  done  more  than  iiis  duty.  It  is  the 
contemporary  record  that  during  the  battle  «  no  one  appeared 
to  have  any  command  but  Colonel  Prescott,"  and  that  "his 
bravery  could  never  be  enough  acknowledged  and  applauded." 
Ihe  camp  long  repeated  the  story  of  his  self-collected  valor- 
and  a  historian  of  the  war,  who  best  knew  the  judgment,^  of 
the  army,  has  rightly  awarded  the  "  highest  prize  of  glory  to 
Prescott  and  his  companions." 

The  British  were  unable  to  continue  the  pursuit,  beyond 
the  isthmus.  Tliey  had  already  brought  their  best  forces  into 
the  held ;  more  than  a  third  of  those  engaged  lay  dead  or  bleed- 
ing; and  the  survivors  were  fatigued,  and  overawed  by  the 
courage  of  their  adversaries.  The  battle  put  an  end  to  all 
oliensive  operations  on  the  part  of  Gage. 

The  number  of  the  killed  and  wo'unded  in  his  army  was 
by  his  own  account,  at  least  one  thousand  and  fifty-four     Sev! 
enty  commissioned  officers  were  wounded,  and  thirteen  were 
slam.     Of  these,  there  were  one  lieutenant-colonel,  two  niaiors 
and  seven  captains.     For  near  half  an  hour  there  had  been  a 
continued  sheet  of  fire  from  the  provincials ;  and  the  action 
was  hot  for  double  that  period.     The  oldest  soldiers  had  never 
seen  the  like.     The  battle  of  Quebec,  which  won  half  a  eontr- 
nent  did  not  cost  the  lives  of  so  many  officers  as  the  battle  of 
iJunker  Ilill,  which  gained  nothing  but  a  place  of  encamp- 
That  Howe  did  not  fall  was  a  marvel.  '  The  praises  be- 
stowed on  his  apathetic  valor,  on  the  gallantry  of  Pigot  and 
Kawdon,  on  the  conduct  of  Clinton,  reflected  honor  on  the  un- 
trained farmers,  who,  though  inferior  in  numbers,  had  tasked 
the  most  strenuous  exertions  of  their  assailants  before  they 
could  be  dislodged  from  the  defences  which  they  had  had  but 
lour  hours  to  construct. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  amounted  to  one  liuudred  and 
torty-hve   killed  and  missing,  and  three  hundred  and   four 


230 


AMEPJCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  iii. ;  en.  xiv. 


wounded.  Tlie  brave  Moses  Parker,  of  Clielmsford,  was 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner ;  lie  died  in  Boston  juil.  JMajor 
Willard  Moore  received  one  severe  wound  at  the  second  attack, 
and  soon  after  another,  which  he  felt  to  be  mortal ;  so  bidding 
farewell  to  those  who  would  have  borne  him  oil,  he  insisted 
on  their  saving  themselves,  and  remained  to  die  for  tlie  good 
cause,  Avhicli  he  had  served  in  council  and  in  arms.  Buckniin- 
ster  was  dangerously  wounded,  but  recovered.  The  injury  to 
Nixon  was  so  great  that  he  suffered  for  many  mouths,  and 
narrowly  escaped  witb  his  life.  Thomas  Gardner,  a  member 
of  congress  from  Cambridge,  was  hastening  witli  some  part  of 
Lis  regiment  to  the  redoubt ;  but,  as  he  was  descending  Bunker 
Hill,  he  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  random  shot.  His  towns- 
men mourned  for  the  rural  statesman,  in  whom  they  had  long 
and  unanimously  reposed  their  confidence ;  and  Washington 
gave  liim  the  funeral  honors  due  to  a  gallant  ofiicer.  Andrew 
McClary,  on  that  day  unsurpassed  in  bravery,  returning  to 
reconnoitre,  perished  by  a  chance  cannon-ball  on  ths  isthmus. 

Just  at  the  moment  of  the  retreat  fell  Joseph  Warren,  the 
last  in  the  trenches.  In  him  were  combined  swiftness  of 
thought  and  resolve,  courage,  endurance,  and  manners  which 
won  universal  love.  He  opposed  the  British  government,  not 
from  interested  motives  nor  from  resentment.  Guileless  and 
intrepid,  he  was  in  truth  a  patriot.  As  the  moment  for  the 
appeal  to  arms  approached,  he  watched  with  joy  the  revival 
of  the  generous  spirit  of  New  England's  ancestors ;  and  wher- 
ever the  peril  was  greatest  he  was  present,  animating  not  by 
words  alone,  but  ever  by  iiis  example.  His  integrity,  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment,  his  al)ility  to  write  readily  and 
well,  his  fervid  eloquence,  his  exact  acquaintance  with  Ameri- 
can rights  and  the  infringements  of  them,  gave  authority  to 
his  advice  in  private  and  in  the  provincial  congress.  Had  he 
lived,  the  future  seemed  burdened  with  his  honore ;  he  cheer- 
fully sacrificed  all  for  the  freedom  of  his  country  and  the 
rights  of  man. 

By  his  countrymen  he  was  "most  sincerely  and  universally 
lamented ; "  his  mother  would  not  be  consoled.  His  death, 
preceded  by  that  of  his  wife,  left  his  children  altogether  or- 
phans, till  the  continent,   at  the  motion  of  Samuel  Adams, 


im.  BJNKER  HILL,  THE  SEVENTEENTH  OF  JUNE  1775.    231 

adopted  them  in  part  at  least  as  its  own.  The  congress  of  his 
native  state,  who  knew  iiim  well,  had  chosen  him  to  guide 
their  debates,  and  had  recently  raised  him  to  high  command 
in  their  army,  proclaimed  their  "  veneration  for  Joseph  War- 
ren, as  for  one  whose  memory  is  endeared  to  his  countrymen, 
and  to  the  worthy  in  every  pai-t  and  age  of  the  world,  so  long 
as  virtue  and  valor  shall  be  esteemed  among  men." 

The  reports  of  the  generals  show  the  opinions  in  the  two 
camps  after  the  battle.     "  The  success,"  wrote  Gage  to  Dart- 
mouth, «  wliich  was  very  necessary  in  our  present  condition 
cost  us  dear.     The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  is  greater 
than  our  forces  can  afford.     We  have  lost  some  extremely 
good  officers.     The  trials  we  have  had  show  the  rebels  are  not 
the  despicable  rabble  too  many  have  supposed  them  to  bo; 
and  I  find  it  owing  to  a  military  spirit  encouraged  among  then' 
for  a  few  years  past,  joined  with  uncommon  zeal  and  enthusi- 
asm.    They  intrench,  and  raise  batteries ;  they  have  engineers. 
They  have  fortified  all  tlie  heights  and  passes  around  this  townj 
which  it  is  not  impossible  for  them  to  annoy.     The  conquest 
of  this  country  is  not  easy ;  you  have  to  cope  with  vast  num- 
bers.    In  all  their  wars  against  the  French,  they  never  showed 
so  much  conduct,  attention,  and  perseverance  as  they  do  now. 
I  think  it  my  duty  to  let  your  lordship  know  the  time  situation 
of  affairs." 

On  the  other  hand,  Ward,  in  a  general  order,  gave  thanks 
to  ^'  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  behaved  so  gallantly  at  the 
action  in  Charlestown  ; "  and,  in  words  which  expressed  the 
conviction  of  his  camp,  he  added :  « We  shall  finally  come 
off  victorious,  and  triumph  over  the  enemies  of  freedom  and 
America."  The  events  of  the  day  confirmed  Washington  in 
his  habitual  belief  that  the  liberties  of  America  would  be  pre- 
served. To  his  English  friends  Franklin  wrote :  "  Americans 
will  fight  J  England  has  lost  her  colonies  forever." 


'4i 


JH 


U 


t 

1 

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1  •• 
i. 

.,  I 


232        AMERICA  AKMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXOE. 


KP.  in. ;  en.  XT. 


'  1 1 


CHAPTER  Xy. 

THE   ARJIY   KOUXD   BOSTON. 


June  17-August  177 


0. 


During  the  evening  and  niglit  after  tlie  engagement  tlie  air 
trembled  with  tlie  groans  of  the  wounded,  as  they  were  borne 
over  the  Charles  and  through  the  streets  of  Eoston  to  iU- 
provided  hospitals.     To  the  end  of  the  war,  the  courage  of 
the  insurgents  in  this  battle  of  the  people,  and  their  skill  as 
marksmen,  never  went  out  of  mind.     Tlie  loss  of  officers  waa 
disproportionately  great;  and  the  gloom  of  the  British  was 
deepened  by  the  reflection  that  they  had  fought  against  their 
own  kindred.     The  mortally  wounded,  lik'e  Abercrombie,  had 
not  the  consolation  that  their  memory  would  be  held  in  honor. 
America  was,  beyond  any  country  in  the  world,  the  land 
of  the  most  varied  legislative  experience ;  but  in  its  remote- 
ness from  danger  and  its  abhorrence  of  a  standing  army  there 
was  not  any  organized  force  except  of  the  people  as  a  militia; 
60^^ that  it  had  no  choice  of  officers  but  from  those  of  the 
militia  who  had  chanced  to  see  some  short  service  in  the 
French  wars,  retired  English   officers  who  had  made  theii- 
homes  m  America,  or  civilians. 

On  the  day  of  the  Bunker  Tlill  battle  the  continental  con- 
gress elected  four  major-generals.  From  deference  to  Massa- 
chusetts, the  first  of  these  was  Artemas  Ward,  though  he  had 
not  yet  received  a  commission  from  that  colony,  and  from  his 
broken  health  was  unfit  for  the  station. 

The  Americans,  with  ingenuous  confidence,  assumed  that 
Charles  Leo,  the  son  of  an  English  officer  and  trained  up  from 
boyhood  for  the  army,  was,  as  lie  represented  himself,  a  sol- 


1775. 


THE  ARMY   ROUND  BOSTON. 


233 


dier  of  ability  and  large  experience,  and  their  friend  from  con- 
viction of  the  equity  of  tlieir  cause.     "  From  wliat  I  know  of 
him,"  wrote  Sir  Joseph  Yorke,  then  British  minister  at  the 
Hague,  "he  is  the  worst  present  which   could  he  made  to 
any  army."     Ileduced  to  half  pay,  he  had  "no  chance  of 
being  provided  for  at  home,"  and,  as  an  adventurer,  sought 
"  employment  in  any  part  of  the  world."   Clinging  to  England 
all  the  while  and  holding  it  "  wretchedness  itself  not  to  be 
able  to  herd  with  the  class  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed 
from  his  infancy,"  he  looked  upon  the  Americans  as  "bad 
company,"  and  unworthy  of  independence.     Xo  position  was 
too  high  for  his  conceit;  yet  he  was  too  petulant  to  persevere 
even  in  intrigues  to  supplant  his  superiors.     He  wrote  with  vi- 
vacity and  sometimes  with  terseness,  but  never  with  feehng ; 
for  he  had  no  siucerity  and  loved  neither  man  nor  >vonian.    Ho 
was  subject  to  "spleen  and  gloomy  moods;"  excitable  almost 
to  madness ;  alike  violent  and  versatile.     He  passed  for  a  brave 
man,  but  in  sudden  danger  he  quailed.     His  mobility,  though 
sometimes  mistaken  for  activity,  only  disguised  his  iueniciency. 
He  was  poor  in  council ;  prodigal  of  censure ;  do^^mcast  in  dis- 
aster;  after  success,  cl;   luing  honor  not  his  own ;  ever  ready  to 
cavil  and  perplex.     He  professed  to  be  a  free-thinker ;  but  he 
had  c    y  learned  of  scoffers  to  deny  "the  God  of  the  Jews," 
curse  the  clergy,  and  hate  orthodox  dissenters.    Ill-raannered,'a 
great  sloven,  wretchedly  profane,  always  with  dogs  about  him, 
his  numerous  eccentricities  were  neither  exaggerations  nor  cari- 
catures of  anything  American,  and  disclosed  an  unsound  mind. 
Having  no  fellow-feeling  with  the  common  people,  he  would 
have  preferred  a  country  of  slaves  under  a  lenient  master  to 
a  democratic  government.     His  sordid  soul  had  no  passion  so 
strong  as  covetousness,  and  he  was  always  seeking  to  escape 
spending  money  even  on  himself.    Having  been  an  aide-de-camp 
to  the  king  of  Poland,  he  claimed  to  "have  passed  through 
the  higher  military  ranks  in  some  of  the  most  respectable  ser- 
vices of  Europe,  and  to  be  a  major-general  of  five  years'  stand- 
ing," and  had  waited  upon  congress  with  the  thought  of  being 
chosen    commander-in-chief.      At  the   moment  of  accepting 
employment  from  a  nation  which  was  looking  to  France  for 
ejiiipathy,  he  assured  his  own  king  of  his  readiness  to  servo 


B 


M  i 


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234        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SEI.F-DK FFNTE.      icimii.;  on.  xv. 

ii^'iiiiiHt  tlio  iiiitiiral  lieivditary  eneinic-.s  of  Kii^rljind  Mitli  tlu; 
utmost  jilaerity  imd  zoal.  IK-  ofttMi  ro^nvttod  luiviii^r  l.aziirdcd 
Ills  "all"  ill  tho  American  caiiso.  Yet  c'oii;,nx'as  elected  liim 
their  second  major-oji.m.ral,  mo  tliat,  on  the  retirement  of  Ward, 
he  would  stand  next  to  Wasliin(--ton, 

jSew  "^  oric  had  been  asked  to  propose  jjie  third  mafor- 
gcneral;  she  had  more  than  one  citi/.en  of  superior  military 
talent ;  hut  her  provincial  confrress,  limiting  the  choice  to  those 
who  i)ossessed  "the  gifts  of  fortune,"  selected  J'hilip  Schuyler. 
Montgomery  hesitated,  saying:  ''  His  conseciuence  in  the  jirov- 
inc<!  makes  him  a  lit  suhject  for  an  important  trust ;  hut  has 
ho  strong  nerves?  I  coidd  wish  that  ])oint  well  ascertained 
with  respect  to  any  man  so  emj)loyed."  The  vote  for  liim 
in  congress  was  not  without  dissent. 

For  the  fourth  major-general,  the  clioico  fell  npcni  Israel 
Putnam,  of  (\>mu>cticut.  Wooster,  its  well  as  Spencer,  of  the 
same  colony,  stood  before  him  in  age  and  rank,  and  e(jualled 
him  in  love  of  country  and  c(.nrage;  but  a  skirmish  at  Kast 
Boston,  in  which  he  took  the  lead,  had  been  heralded  as  a  great 
victory,  and  the  ballot  in  liis  favor  is  recorded  as  nnanimous. 
Of  Massachusetts  by  birth,  at  the  age  of  thii-ty-sevcn  he  began 
his  career  with  the  commission  from  ( V»mi(-cticut  of  a  second 
lieutenant,  and  his  service  had  been  cliielly  as  a  ranger. 

Horatio  dates,  a  retired  J3ritish  officer  who  resided  in  Vir- 
ginia, came  next  as  adjutant-general  nitli  the  raidc  of  brigadier. 
On  the  twenty-first  of  June,  Thomas  Jefferson,  then  thirty 
years  of  age,  entered  congress,  preceded  by  a  brilliant  re])uta- 
tion  as  a  vigorous  writer  and  a  far-sighted  statesnum. 

The  twenty-second  brought  the  great  tidings  of  the  battle 
near  Bunker  Hill.  ''A  breach  on  our  alTections  Avas  needed 
to  rouse  the  country  to  action,"  exclaimed  Patrick  Henry  as 
he  heard  of  the  death  of  AVarren.  Congress  proceeded  to 
t\io  election  of  eight  brigadiers,  of  whom  all  but  one  Avero 
from  Xew  England.  In  deference  to  the  choice  of  the  con- 
gress of  Mas^.iclmsetts,  the  first  was  Seth  Pomeroy  ;  but  he  re- 
tired before  receiving  his  commission.  The  second  was  Rich- 
ard Montgomery,  of  New  York,  a  Scotch-Irishman  by  birth,  a 
soldier  by  jirofession,  well-informed  as  a  statesman,  faultless  in 
private  life,  a  patriot  from  the  heart.    He  was  followed  by  Dav  id 


I  fi 


1778. 


THE  ARMY  ROUND  BOSTON. 


235 


AV()(wter,  of  Coiineoticut,  a  bravo  and  npri^lit  man  of  fiixty-five  ; 
■\Villi:uii  Iloatli,  of  Koxbiiry,  AlassaeliiisettM,  u  patriot  fariiior, 
who  held  hi«<h  rank  in  tho  train-I-ands  and  liad  read  hooks  oil 
the  military  art;  .Joseph  Spencer,  of  Connecticut,  a  man  past 
sixty,  a  most  rcHpcctahlo  citizen,  Init,  from  age  and  inexi)e- 
rience,  not  qnalilied  for  councils  of  war;  .John  Thomas,  a 
])hyHU'ian,  of  Kin^rHtou,  Arassaclmsetts ;  and  .Tohn  Sullivan,  an 
able  iawyi-r  and  i)atriot  statesmau  of  New  Ilamptihire.  Tho 
last  was  Nathaniel  (Jreene,  of  KIkxIc  Island,  unsurpassed  in 
the  fortitude  which  bears  up  against  defeat. 

Washiugton,  who  at  that  time  was  aiiluent,  took  delight 
in  his  beautifully  situated  homo  at  Mount  Vernon,  where  ho 
gave  an  example  of  jjurity  of  life,  of  systematic  order  in  tho 
management  of  his  estate,  ajid  benevolence  to  those  in  want. 
To  his  wife,  whose  miniature  ho  wore  on  his  breast  from  tho 
day  of  his  marriage  to  his  death,  ho  wrote  on  the  eighteenth 
of  Juno :  "  You  may  believe  mo,  I  should  enjoy  more  real 
hapi)iness  in  ono  month  with  you  at  home  than  I  have  the 
most  distant  prospect  of  finding  abroad  if  my  stay  were  to  be 
seven  tiincjs  seven  years.  I  have  used  every  endeavor  in  my 
power  to  avoid  this  appointment,  from  a  consciousness  of  its 
being  a  trust  too  great  for  my  capacity,  but,  as  a  kind  of  des- 
tiny has  thrown  mo  upon  this  service,  1  shall  hope  that  my  un- 
dertaking it  is  designed  to  answer  some  good  purpose.  I  shall 
rely  coulidently  on  that  Providence  which  has  hitherto  pre- 
served and  been  bountiful  to  mo." 

At  a  farewell  supper,  the  members  of  congress  rose  as  they 
drank  a  health  to  "the  commander  in-chief  of  the  American 
army ; ''  to  his  thanks  they  listened  in  stillness,  for  a  sense  of 
the  difliculties  before  him  suppressed  every  festal  cheer. 

On  the  twenty-third  he  was  escorted  out  of  Philadelphia 
by  the  Massachusetts  delegates  and  many  others,  with  nmsic, 
otHcors  of  militia,  and  a  cavalcade  of  light-horse.  "  I,  poor 
creature,"  said  John  Adams,  as  he  returned  from  this  "  pride 
and  pomp  of  war,"  «- 1,  worn  out  with  scribbling  for  my  bread 
and  my  liberty,  low  in  spirits  and  weak  in  health,  must  leave 
others  to  wear  the  laurels  which  I  have  sown ;  others  to  eat 
the  bread  which  I  have  earned."  To  his  brother,  Washington 
wrote  confidlugly  :  "  I  bid  adieu  to  every  kind  of  domestic  ease, 


i 


.  ,tll 

'   i 

f  I' 


i*# 


230        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKXCE.      ep.  in. ;  en.  xv. 

and  embark  on  a  wklo  ocean,  bouiulless  in  its  prospect,  and  in 
which  periiaps  no  safe  harbor  ia  to  be  found."  Ho  went 
forth  to  hazard  fame  and  life  in  tiio  comnumd  of  an  anny 
whieli  Imd  neither  experienced  otticers,  nor  discipline,  nor  per- 
niaiiency,  nor  proper  arms,  nor  amnumition,  nor  funds  for  its 
support;  encouraged  only  by  the  hope  that,  by  eelf-sacrilice,  ho 
might  rescue  the  rights  of  his  coutitry. 

On  Sunday,  the  twenty-fifth,  all  New  York  was  in  motion. 
Tryon,  the  royal  governor,  and  Washington  were  to  enter  the 
city,  mid  both  were  entitled  to  be  received  with  public  honors. 
As  Washington,  accompanied  by  Lee  and  Schuyler,  nnder  the 
escort  of  the  i^hiladclphia  light-horse,  was  about  to  cross  the 
Hudson,  the  bells  were  rung,  the  militia  paraded  in  their  gayest 
tnin,  and  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  commander-ia- 
chief,  dressed  in  a  uniform  of  blue  and  drawn  in  an  open  car- 
riage  by  a  pair  of  white  horses,  was  escorted  into  the  city  by 
nine  companies  of  infancy;  and,  from  house-tops,  windows, 
and  the  streets,  was  gazed  at  by  multitudes  of  all  ages  and  both 
Bexes.     Tryon,  landing  at  nightfall,  was  noiselessly  escorted  by 
one  company  and  a  few  magistrates  to  a  house  in  IJroadway. 
Amazed  and  cast  down,  he  masked  his  designs  under  an  air  of 
unconcern  and  blindness.     Wjishington  directed  Schuyler  to 
keep  watch  of  his  movements,  and  wrote  a  warning  to  con- 
gress. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  the  provincial  congress  of  New  York, 
in  their  address  to  Washington,  expressed  their  fullest  as- 
surance that,  upon  an  accommodation,  he  would  cheerfully 
resign  his  trast  and  become  once  more  a  citizen.  "AVhen  we 
assumed  the  soldier  we  did  not  lay  aside  the  citizen,"  answered 
Washington  for  himself  and  his  officers;  but,  having  once 
drawn  the  sword,  he  postponed  the  thought  of  private  life  to 
the  "  establishment  of  American  liberty  on  the  most  firm  and 
solid  foundations." 

The  next  day  the  Ne\'  York  congress  produced  its  plan 
of  accommodation.  For  the  colonies  it  insisted  on  the  repeal 
of  obnoxious  acts  and  the  undisturbed  exercise  of  the  powers 
of  internal  legislation  and  taxation  ;  it  left  to  Great  Britain  the 
power  to  regulate  the  trade  of  the  whole  empire ;  and,  on  proper 
requisitions,  promised  assistance  in  the  general  defence,  either 


8!    * 


ft'- 


cu.  xy. 


1775. 


TIJE   ARMY   ROUND  BOSTON. 


237 


from  tlio  oolonic's  severally,  or  thnm-h  a  continental  conrrress 
of  wlucli  the  president  hIiuuM  be  uppoiutetl  by  the  crown!  ' 
While  Washington'  wan  borne  toward  ('ambrid-re  oil  the 
affectionate  cnlidence  of  the  jx-ople,  congrcHs,  which  had  as 
yet  supported  its  conunander-in-chief  with  nothing  b.'vond  a 
conuniHsion,  was  driven  to  issue  continental  bilk  of  credit  to 
the  amount  of  t  .o  millions  of  dollars,  and  to  pledge  "the 
twelve  confederated  colonies"  for  their  redemption. 

A  code  for  the  government  of  the  continental  anny  was 
adopted.  The  (Jreen  Mountain  IJoys  were  allowed  the  choice 
of  their  own  oflicers;  and  as  Carleton  "was  making  prepara- 
tions to  mvade  the  colonies,  and  was  instigating  the  Indian 
nations  against  them,"  Schuyler  was  directed  to  re])air  to 
liconderoga  and  Crown  Point  with  authority  to  occupy  St 
John's,  Montreal,  and  any  other  parts  of  Caiuida.  To  the  In- 
dians, agents  were  sent  with  presents  and  speeches,  « to  prevent 
their  taking  any  part  in  the  commotions.''  Alliances  with 
them  were  forbidden,  except  to  counteract  iiritish  emissaries. 

On  the  sixth  of  July  congress  set  forth  the  causes  and 
necessity  of  taking  up  arms.     Eecapitulating  the  wrongs  of 
America,  they   asked,  in  words  which  Edmund   Burke  ridi- 
culed as  the  "nonsense"  of  men  wholly  ignorant  of  the  state 
of  parties  in  England:  "Why  should  wo  enumerate  our  inju- 
ries 111  detail  i    By  one  statute  it  is  declared  that  parliament 
can  of  riglit  make  laws  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 
What  IS  to  defend  us  against  so  unlimited  a  power?    Aot  a 
single  man  of  those  who  assume  it  is  chosen  by  us ;   and  an 
American  revenue  would  lighten  their  own  burdens  in  projior- 
tion  as  they  increase  ours."    Lord  North's  proposal  for  concilia- 
tion they  condemned  as  insidiously  designed  to  divide  the  colo- 
nie..,    -id  leave  them  nothing  but  "  the  indulgence  of  raising 
the  prescribed  tribute  in  their  own  mode."    After  enumerating 
the  hostile  acts  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  Boston,  Charlestown" 
and  other  places,  the  seizure  of  ships,  the  intercepting  of  pro- 
visions, the  attempts  to  imbody  Canadians,  Indians,  and  insur- 
gent slaves,  they  sum  up  their  complaint :    "  These  colonies 
now  feel  the  complicated  calamities  of  lire,  sword,  and  famine. 
We  arc  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  choosing  an  uneo;iditional 
submisaiou  to  irritated  ministers,  or  resistance  by  force.     The 


i     )i 


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238         AMERICA  AUMS   FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      eimii.  ;  cii.  xr. 

latter  ia  our  clioice.     Wc;  liavo  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest, 
and  iind  nothing  so  dicudfiil  as  vohnitary  shivery.     Our  cause 
is  just,  onr  union  is  ])erfect,  our  internal   resources  are  great, 
and,  if  necessary,  foreign  assistance  is  undouhtedly  attainable. 
Hefore  (Jod  and  the  worhl,  we  dechire  that  the  arms  we  luivc 
been  conipclled  by  our  enemies  to  assume  we  will  employ  for 
the  preservation  of  our  liberties;  being,  wi(h  one  mind,  re- 
solved to  die  free  men  rather  than  live  slaves.     We  have  not 
raised  armies  with  desigjis  of  separating  from  (ireat  Britain 
and  est:d)Iishing  inde[)endent   states.      JVecessity  has  not  yet 
driven  us  into  that  desperate  measui-e.     \Vo  exhibit  to  man- 
kind tlic  spectacle  of  a  p-.'ople  attacked  hy  unprovoked  ene- 
mies, without  any  imputation  or  even  suspicion  of  olfence.     In 
our  own  native  land,  in  defence  of  the  freedom  that  is  our 
birthright,  for  the  protection  of  our  property  against  violence 
actually  olfored,  we  have  taken  np  arms.     VVe  ;;hall  lay  them 
down  when  liostilities  shall  cease  on  the  part  of  the  aggressors, 
and  all  danger  of  tlieir  being  renewed  shall  be  removed,  and 
not  before." 

Of  this  papc  r,  the  author  from  the  first  word  to  the  last  was 
Dickinson.-^-  The  second  petition  to  the  king,  written  likewise  by 
liim,  thus  [proposed  a  negotiation  to  be  [)receded  by  a  truce  :  "  Wo 
beseech  your  majesty  to  direct  some  mode  by  which  the  united 
applications  of  your  faithful  colonists  to  the  throne,  in  pursuance 
of  their  connnon  councils,  may  be  imju-oved  into  a  happv  and 
permanent  reconciliation  ;  aiul  that,  in  the  mean  time,  measures 
may  be  taken  for  jM-eventing  the  further  destruction  of  the  lives 
of  your  majesty's  subjects,  and  that  sucli  statutes  as  more  imme- 
diately distress  any  of  your  majesty's  colonies  may  be  re]iealed." 
The  Tnited  (Vhmies  next  set  forth  to  the  inhal)itants  of 
Great  Hritain,  as  countrymen  and  Itrothers,  tliat  the  repeal  of 
the  laws  of  which  they  complained  nnist  go  before  the  dis- 
banding of  their  army,  or  the  renewal  of  commerce.  On  the 
same  (lay  tlianks  were  addressed  to  th.>  lord  mayor,  aldermen, 
and  livery  of  London,  for  their  unsolicited  sym])athy. 

Jiichard  Penn,  one  of  the  pro()rietaries  of  Penrsylvania 

*  Tliro,i-h  the -(.0.1  ofTiccs  of  G.  fl.  Mooro,  I  Imvo  cxanii.uM  tlio  .ni-inal  M^.    It  is 
from  the  (irst  lino  to  tlu>  last,  will,  all  tho  anu'iidinonts,  in  tli,-  haiuhvritins  of  Dick- 


insoM,  iiT'.ii 


pn>c!iu!os  the  idva  iluU  tlic  do. 


so  was  drawn  liv  anv  liaml  but  his  own. 


I:      W 


1775. 


THE  ARMY  liOUND  BOSTON. 


239 


and  rocoTitly  its  governor,  a  most  loyal  En-lislunan,  hound 
l)y  tho  strongest  motives  of  interest  to  avert  Amcriean  in- 
dependence, was  selected  to  bear  the  second  petition  to  the 
throne.  I[o  assumed  the  trust  with  alacrity,  and  on  tho 
twelfth  of  J  uly  eml)arked  on  liis  mission.  The  "hope  of  success 
grew  out  of  the  readiness  of  the  .imericans,  on  the  condition  of 
exemption  from  parliamentary  taxation,  to  hear  the  restraints 
on  their  trade  ;  or,  as  an  alternative,  to  purchase  a  freedom  of 
trade  like  that  of  Scotland  by  taxing  themselves  toward  tho 
payment  of  tlic  national  debt. 

On  the  third  of  July,  Washington  rode  forth  from  his  rpiar- 
ters  at  C 'ambridge,  numerously  anended,  and  took  comma-  of 
the  continental  army.  A  favorable  opinion  had  gone  before 
him  ;  but  hib  presence  was  greater  than  his  fame.  The  pro- 
vincial congress  at  Watertown  welcomed  him  in  a  cordial 
a(ldress.  (Jreeno  and  tho  Rhode  Island  oflicers  manifested 
allectionato  confidence.  Promises  of  mutual  reliance,  which 
were  never  broken,  were  exchanged  ^^•ith  Trumbull,  the  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut. 

The  camp  contained  a  ])cople  in  arms,  rather  than  an  army. 
Ac  one  could  tell  precisely  its  miml)ers  or  the  f-tate  of  its 
stores.     The  soldiers  had  enlisted  under  different  agreements, 
and  for  periods  indefinite  but  sli.Tt.     Each  colony  had  its  o^v^ 
rules  of  military  government  and  its  own  system  of  sup])lies ; 
and  tho  term  of  service  of  tho  men,  who  wore  for  the  most 
liart  freeholders  and  tho  sons  of  freeholders,  was  fixed  bv  spe- 
cific covenants.     Gates,  the  adjutant-general,  entered  imniedi- 
atcly  on  his  duties  and  found  abundant  occupation  in  bringing 
the  incoherent  regiments  of  novices  into  order,  for  the  muta- 
tion in  the  troops  was  incessant  and  made  the  renewal  of  in- 
struction e(iually  so.     ITapjiily  his  temperament  and  manners 
adapted  him  to  tho  duty,  and  he  contrived  in  a  wonderfully 
short  time  to  give  to  the":-  parades  a  decent  appearanco.""- 

^  While  a  return  of  the  state  of  the  amy  was  preparing, 
Washington  visited  the  American  ]iost3  and  reconnoitred  thoS 
of  the  enemy.  Of  Charle.-town  nothing  was  to  bo  seen  but 
chimneys  and  rubbish.  Above  tlie  ruins  rose  tho  tents  of 
British  forces,  strongly  posted  on  Bunker  Hill  ^\•i1h  a  redoubt 


t    1 


'■   I 


MS.  of  (Jrayson,  an  cuilv  aide-ili.' 


■camp  of  Washington. 


■th 


I'.i 


240         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  ch.  xt. 

on  Breed's  Hill,  and  sentries  extending  beyond  Charlesto\vn 
neck.  The  liglit-liorse  and  a  few  trooj)s  were  in  Boston ;  the 
largest  part  of  the  British  army  ^vas  deeply  intrenched  on 
Eoxbury  neck. 

Of  tlie  inhabitants  of  Boston,  six  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  fifty-three  remained  in  the  town,  deprived  of  wholesome 
food ;  confined  to  their  houses  after  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening ; 
liable  to  be  robbed  witliout  redress ;  ever  exposed  to  the  maHce 
of  the  soldiers  and  chidden  for  tears  as  proofs  of  disloyalty. 

The  British  land  force,  weakened  on  the  retreat  from  Con- 
cord, at  Bunker  Hill,  in  skirmishes,  from  sickness,  and  by 
desertion,  had  no  more  than  sixty-five  hundred  effective  rank 
and  file.  But  these  were  the  choicest  troops;  and  had  do- 
minion of  the  water. 

Washington  found  the  American  army  dispersed  in  a  semi- 
circle from  the  west  end  of  Dorchester  to  Maiden,  a  distance 
of  nine   miles.     At  Roxbury  where  Thomas  commanded,  a 
strong  work,  planned  by  Knox  and  Waters,  cro^vned  the  h'ill, 
and  secured  the  pass.     The  centre  of  the  army  was  with  Ward 
at  Cambridge,  its  lines  reaching  from  the  colleges  almost  to 
the  river.     Putnam,  with  four  thousand  men,  lay  intrenched 
on  Prospect  Hill.     The  sentinels  and  smaller  posts  stretched 
beyond  :Maldcn  river.     Apart,  in  a  thick  wood,  near  where 
the  Charles  enters  the  bay,  stood  the  Avigwams  of  about  fifty 
domiciliated  Indians  of  the  Stockbridge  tribe,  who  were  on  a 
visit  to  the  camp.     They  were  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  as 
Avell  as  guns,  and  accompanied  by  their  squaws  and  little  ones. 
As  to  the  employment  of  red  men,  congress,  on  the  twelfth 
of  July,  declared  "their  intention  to  seek  only  a  neutrality  of 
the  Indian  nations  unless  the  ministerial  agents  should  engaf-e 
them  in  hostihties  or  in  an  offensive  alliance."  '^ 

The  American  rolls  promised  seventecTi  thousand  men,  but 
there  were  never  more  than  fourteen  thousand  five  hundred 
fit  for  duty.  Iix  dress  there  was  no  nnifcnnity.  The  com- 
panies from  Rhode  Island  were  furnished  with  tents,  and  had 
the  appearance  of  regular  troops;  otliers  filled  the  college 
halls,  the  Episcopal  chureli,  and  private  houses  ;  the  fields  were 
strown  with  lodges,  of  which  some  were  constructed  of  boards, 
or  sail-cloth,  or  partly  of  botli ;  others  of  stone  raid  turf,  or  of 


CH.  XV. 


1775. 


THE  ARMY  ROUND  BOSTON. 


241 


Urch  and  otlier  brush.  Some  were  tlirown  np  in  a  careless 
hurry;  others  were  curiously  wrought  with  doors  and  win- 
dows, woven  out  of  withes  and  reeds.  The  motliers,  wives, 
brothers  or  sisters  of  the  soldiers  were  constantly  coming  to  the 
camp  with  supplies  of  clothing  and  household  gifts.  Eloquent 
chaplains  kept  alive  the  custom  of  daily  prayer  and  weekly 
sermons.  The  habit  of  inquisitiveness  and  self-direction,  and 
the  equality  of  life  at  home  between  the  officers  and  privates 
stood  in  the  way  of  military  discipline.  ' 

In  the  "great  number  of  able-bodied  men,  active,  zealous 
m  the  cause,  and  of  unquestionable  courage,"  Washington  saw 
the  materials  for  a  good  army.  "If  the  officers  will  but  do 
their  duty,"  said  Ilawley,  "there  is  no  fear  of  tlie  soldiery" 
Of  incompetent  officers,  Washington,  by  a  prompt  use  of 
courts-martial,  made  many  examples.  His  strong  and  uni- 
form will  was  exerted  with  a  quiet  energy.  Every  day,  Sim- 
days  not  excepted,  thousands  were  kept  at  work  from  four  till 
eleven  in  the  morning  strengthening  the  hues,  and  fortifyino- 
every  point  which  could  serve  the  enemy  as  a  landing-place" 
liiere  are  many  things  amiss  in  this  camp,"  said  the  chaplain 
Emerson  ;  "yet,  upon  the  whole,  God  is  in  the  midst  of  us." 

Leo  had  not  been  many  days  in  the  camp  before  he  showed 
a  disposition  to  treat  with  the  British  generals  in  Boston.    From 
Philadelphia  he  had,  in  June,  addressed  to  Bnrgoyne,  his  old 
coinrade  in  Portugal,  a  public  letter  on  American  taxation  by 
parliament  and  the  corrupt  influence  of  the  crown.    Euro-oyne 
in  reply  invited  Lee  to  "an  interview"  within  the  B^ritish 
lines,  for  "  such  explanations  as  might  tend  to  peace ; "  sayino-  • 
I  know  (Ireat  Britain  is  ready  to  open  her  arms  upon  the  finst 
overture  of  accommodation."    Clutching  at  the  office  of  a  nego- 
tiator, lee  requested  the  Massachusetts  congress  to  depute  one 
o.  their  body  to  be  a  witness  of  what  should  pass.     They  dis- 
suaded from  the  meeting,  and  referred  him  to  a  com.cil  of  war 
for  further  advice.     Thwarted  in  his  purpose,  Lee  publicly 
declined  to    meet  Burgoync,  but  clandestinely  assured  him 
upon  his  honor  that  the  Americans  had  the  certainty  of  beinjr 
sustained  oy  Franco  and  Sj.ain."     This  treacherous  assurance 
was  reported  to  the  British  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies. 
On  Uie  fitteenth  tlio  army  of  Cambridge  hoard  Langdon, 

VOL.    IV.— 10  ° 


I 


i; 

1 

1 

■ji 

iiMtil 


I  ■  .       i  1 

11    :    /; 

i,i     : 


:  I 


242        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


KP.  HI. ;  en.  XV. 


the  president  of  Harvard  college,  read  the  declaration  by  the 
continental  congress  for  taking  np  arms,  and  they  interpreted 
it  to  mean  'lat  the  Americans  would  never  sheathe  the  sword 
till  their  grievances  were  redressed  to  their  utmost  wishes. 

In  conformity  to  the  direction  of  the  continental  congress, 
the  people  of  Massachusetts,  holding  tomi-meetings  according 
to  their  usage  and  their  charter,  chose  a  house  of  representa- 
tives. The  wanderers  from  Boston,  many  of  whom  had  not 
seen  each  other  since  they  left  their  homes,  came  together  at 
Concord,  where  they  held  their  Boston  town-meeting  and 
elected  representatives.  On  the  nineteenth  the  provincial  con- 
gress dissolved  itself  forever ;  and  the  new  house  of  representa- 
tives began  the  restoration  of  government  by  choosing  James 
Warren  of  Plymouth  as  its  speaker.  Two  days  later  the  coun- 
cil of  twenty-eight  was  elected,  and,  preserving  its  concurrent 
legislative  power,  assumed  all  executive  authority.  Bowdoin, 
whose  name  stood  first  on  the  list  of  councillors,  was  maue  their 
president.  His  health  was  infirm ;  but  he  accepted  the  post, 
manifesting  his  zeal  by  this  conspicuous  a^l  of  what  Britain 
esteemed  overt  treason.  The  seal  of  the  counnonwealth  was 
changed  into  an  Anglo-American,  holding  a  drawn  sword,  with 
the  motto :  "  Ense  petit  plaeidam  sub  libertato  quietem," 
"  With  the  sword  he  seeks  placid  rest  under  liberty."  Forty 
thousand  pounds  were  assessed  on  polls  and  estates ;  and  au- 
thority ^vas  given  to  issue  one  hundred  thousand  more  in  biP  . 
of  public  credit,  varying  in  amount  from  forty  shillings  to 
one. 

"  Congress  and  committees  rule  every  province,"  said  Gage. 
On  the  twenty-fourth  he  wrote  home  that  Boston  was  "the 
most  disadvantageous  place  for  all  operations ; "  and  he  wished 
himself  at  New  York. 

All  the  time  parties  of  Americans  kept  up  continual  skir- 
mishes, cut  off  all  supplies  to  the  beleaguered  army  by  land, 
cleared  the  islands  in  Boston  harbor  of  stores  of  sheep,  hay, 
cattle,  and  ripe  grain,  and  destroyed  the  light-house  in  Boston 
harbor.  AYhen  a  party  of  carpenters  and  guard  of  marines 
attempted  to  repair  the  light-house,  volunteers  from  two  New 
England  villages  killed  or  captured  them  all,  and  were  praised 
by  Wasliingtou  in  general  orders  for  their  gallant  conduct. 


en.  XV. 


1775. 


THE  ARilY  ROUND  BOSTON. 


2i3 


The  country  applauded  what  Jefferson  called  « the  adventur- 
ous genius  and  intrepidity  of  the  New  Englanders." 

Tlie  existence  of  the  army  was  a  miracle  of  tlie'bcncvolcnee 
ot  the  New  England  people,  and  its  sustenance  during  Mny 
June,  and  July,  cannot  be  accounted  for  by  ordinary  ndcs' 
There  was  notliing  regularly  established,  and  yet  many  thou- 
sands  of  men  were  supplied.     Touched  by  an  all-pervadin- 
influence,  each  householder  esteemed  himself  a  sort  of  commis"- 
Bary.     There  were  no  public  magazines,  no  la.-ge  dealers  in 
provisions  ;  but  the  wants  of  the  army  rung  in  the  ears  of  the 
farmers,  and,  from  every  cellar  and  barn-yard  and  field  throucrh- 
out  Worcester  and  Hampshire  and  even  Berkshire,  such  artides 
of  food  as  could  be  spared  were  devoted  to   the  camp,  and 
everybody's  wagons  were  used  to  forward  them.     But  for  this 
the  forces  must  have  dispersed  ;  how  it  was  done  cannot  exactly 
be  told  ;  popular  enthusiasm  keeps  little  record  of  its  sacrifices  ; 
only  It  was  done,  and  the  troops  of  Massachusetts,  and  for  a 
longtime  those  of  Now  Hampshire,  were  fed,  without  so  much 
as  a  barrel  of  flour  from  the  continental  congress.    It  was  time 
for  "  the  confederated  colonies  "  to  interjiose. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  July  the  continental  cono-ress  read 
the  first  report  from  AYashington,  by  which  it  apneared  that 
the  army  was  defective  in  discipline  and  in  nuinbers ;  that 
officers  for  tlio  regiments  were  in  excess ;  that  the  order  iu 
rank  of  the  major-generals  and  brigadiers  had  displeased  the 
New  England  troops  and  governments ;  that  still  another  class 
of  ofiicers  was  required  to  bring  method  into  the  system  of 
supplies ;  that  there  was  the  most  urgent  need  of  tents,  cloth- 
ing, hospitals,  and  skilful  engineers ;  of  every  kind  of  arms, 
especially  artillery,  and  above  all  of  powder;  and  that,  as  yet] 
no  money  had   been  furnished.     The  next  day  it  heard  the 
report  of  Schuyler  that  the  northern  army  at  Ticondero'ra  ex- 
hibited  a  universal  want  of  discipline.     Yet  on  the  side  of 
Canada  it  did  little  more  than  sanction  the  employment  of  a 
body  of  five  thousand  men  for  the  protection  of  the  border  and 
the  frontier.     Washington  was  authorized  to  keep  up  an  army 
of  twenty-two  tliousand  men  in  I^fassachusetts. 

Tranklin  could  remain  silent  no  longer.     After  consultino- 
with  others,  especially  with  Jefferson,  on  the  twenty-first  of 


! 


H '(  i 


^ 

"i  ji 


li--  I 


i:  I'lrll! 


li'-i 


^!,M. 


■:.-r-*IS'"*'' 


244        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. ;  oil.  XV. 


I'   ',VJ 


-I  i! 


■I  t 


July  the  statesman,  who,  twenty-one  years  before,  had  at  Al- 
bany reported  a  plan  of  union,  submitted  an  outline  for  eon- 
federating  the  colonies  in  one  nation.  Each  colony  was  to  re- 
tain and  amend  its  own  laws  and  constitution  according  to  its 
separate  discretion,  while  the  powers  of  the  general  govern- 
ment were  to  include  all  questions  of  war,  peace,  and  alliance ; 
commerce,  currency,  and  the  establishment  of  posts  ;  the  army, 
the  navy,  and  Indian  affairs ;  the  management  of  all  lands  not 
yet  ceded  by  the  natives ;  the  planting  of  new  colonies ;  the 
settlement  of  all  intercolonial  disputes.  For  the  conimon  trea- 
sury taxes  were  to  be  collected  by  the  several  colonies  in  pro- 
portion to  their  numbers.  Congress  v/as  to  consist  of  one 
body  only,  whose  members  were  to  be  apportioned  triennially 
according  to  population,  to  be  ciiosen  annually,  and  to  sit  in 
each  colony  in  rotation.  To  wield  the  executive  power,  it  was 
to  select  out  of  its  own  members  a  council  of  twelve,  of  whom 
one  third  were  to  be  annually  renewed. 

Every  colony  of  Great  Britain  in  Xorth  America,  and  even 
Ireland  which  was  still  classed  with  the  colonies,  was  invited 
to  accede  to  the  union.  The  imperfections  in  the  new  consti- 
tution, which  time  and  expei-ience  would  surely  reveal,  were  to 
be  amended  by  congress  with  the  approbation  of  a  majority  of 
the  colonial  assemblies.  Unless  Britain  should  consent'to  malce 
acceptable  retractions  and  indenmities,  the  confederation  was 
to  be  perpetual.  The  intention  of  Franklin  was  an  immediate 
establishment  of  a  self-perpetuating  republic,  founded  on  tlie 
domestic  power  of  the  several  states,  and  the  limited  so\'er- 
eignty  of  the  central  government. 

Georgia  "  was  no  more  the  defaulting  link  in  the  Ameri- 
can chain,"  It  had  resolved  neither  to  purchase  nor  to  em- 
ploy any  slave  imported  thereafter  from  Africa,  and  on  the 
sixth  of  July  its  congress  adhered  to  dl  the  measures  of  re- 
sistance. 

In  the  same  mouth  congress  sent  to  Ireland  a  pledge  of  its 
unalterable  sympathy,  and  its  joy  that  the  trials  of  America 
had  extorted  some  mitigation  of  its  wrongs. 

While  these  addresses  were  in  progress,  Guy  Johnson,  act- 
ing independently  of  Carleton,  was  lavishing  ])romises  on  the 
Six  Kations  and  the  savages  of  north-west  Canada.     An  Iro- 


1775. 


THE   ARMY  ROUND  BOSTON. 


'?45 


quois  chief,  who  attended  the  conference  at  Montreal,  con- 
sented to  take  homo  a  war-belt,  emblazoned  with  the  hatchet 
but  would  engage  himself  no  further;  other  savages,  for  whom 
a  pipe  of  wine  was  broached,  feasted  on  an  ox  which  had  been 
named  Bostonian,  and,  as  they  drank  its  blo.vl,  tli-  y  sang  the 
war-song,  with  promises  of  prowess  when  they  should  be  called 
to  the  held.     Yet  still  the  majority  of  tiu    congress  would  not 
sanction  the  institution  of  governments  in  the  several  colonies 
Ihe  hesitancy  incensed  John  Adams,  ;vho  maintained  that  th' 
hfty  or  sixty  men  composing  the  congress  should  at  once  form 
a  constitution  for  a  great  empiro.  provide  for  its  defence,  and 
m  that  safe  attitude  await  tlie    iecisiuu  of  the  king.     His  let- 
ters to  New  England,  avowing  these   opinions,  were  inter- 
cepted; and  were  published  by  the  royahsts  as  the  surest  way 
of  destroying  his  influence.     So  hard  it  was  to  rend  the  tie 
that  bound  America  to  England ! 

Lord  North's  proposal   toward   conciliation  had   already 
been  declared  inadequate ;  but,  as  it  was  founded  on  ioint 
resolves  of  parliament,  officiially  recommended  by  Lord  Dart- 
mouth, and_  liad  been  referred  by  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  and 
1  ennsylvania  to  congress,  a  committee,  composed  of  Franklin 
Jefferson,  John  Adams,  and  Richard  Henry  Lee,  was  consti! 
tuted  to  report  on  its  conditions  as  a  basis  for  accommodation. 
Jefferson  was  the  writer  of  their  report,  and  the  most  decisive 
measure  of  congress  was  its  adoption  in  Jnly.     The  American 
congress  had  asked  of  the  king  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  a 
settlement  of  the  disputed  questions  by  a  concert  between  the 
crown  and  the  collective  colonies ;  Lord  Nortli  offered,  as  the 
Lritish  ultimatum,  to  treat  separately  with  each  asseml>ly  for 
grants  toward  the  general  defence  and  for  its  own  civil  gov- 
ernment, with  the  promise  that  parliament  would  abstain  from 
taxing  the  province  that  should  offer  satisfactory  terms.     This 
offer  was  pronounced  unreasonable,  because  it  implied  a  pur- 
chase of  the  forbearance  of  parliament  at  an  uncertain  price- 
invidious,  as  likely  to  di^^de  the  colonies  and  leave  the  dis- 
satisfied to  resist  alone;  unnecessary,  for  America  had  ever 
voluntarily  contributed  fully,  when  called  upon  as  freemen; 
msulting,  since  the  demand  for  money  was  made  with  fleets 
and  armies  ;  unjust,  as  it  asked  increased  contributions  without 


ti 


Ipf 


i    I: 


!  i  ;  i 


i:-|: 


,    i  i  i 


'M 


24G         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR   SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  XV. 


II 


ilifli^! 


renouncing  tlio  monoi^oly  of  trade  ;  unwarrantable,  as  a  wrong- 
ful interinoddling  in  the  colonial  support  of  civil  government; 
unsatisfactory,  since  it  left  the  obnoxious  acts  unrepealed  ;  in- 
sufHcient,  as  it  did  net  renounce  the  claim  of  a  right  to  alter 
colonial  charters  and  laws ;  insincere,  as  coming  from  a  min- 
ister who  had  declared  "  that  he  Avould  never  treat  with  Amer- 
ica till  he  had  brought  her  to  his  feet ; "  and  delusive,  as  it 
offered  no  option  but  of  devastation  or  abject  submission.  If 
the  king  would  order  a  truce  and  point  out  a  method  for 
treating  with  the  colonies  jointly,  they  would  desire  nothing 
better  than  a  colonial  constitution,  to  be  established  by  a  mu- 
tual agreement. 

Meantime,  Franklin  was  selected  to  organize  a  post-office ; 
a  hospital  was  agreed  to  for  the  army  and  Benjamin  diurch 
elected  its  director ;  the  rate  of  pay  of  officers  and  soldiers  was 
finally  settled.     For  money,  a  third  million  of  dollars  was  or- 
dered to  be  struck  in  paper  bills,  and  each  colony  was  charged 
to  sink  its  quota  of  them.     Here  the  question  arose  whether 
the   apportionment  for  redemption    should   be  according  to 
wealth   or  population;    and,  after  long  deliberation,  it  was 
agreed  for  tlie  time  that  population  should  constitute  the  dis- 
tributive rule;  and  that  all  persons,  including  free  negroes, 
mulattoes,  and  slaves,  should  be  counted.     Of  four  annual  in- 
stalments, by  which  the  continental  notes  were  to  be  j-edoemed, 
the  earliest  was  adjourned  to  the  last  day  of  November  1779.  ' 
There  was  no  mode  of  obtaining  munitions  of  war  but  by 
throwing  open  the  ports  and  inviting  counnerce,  especially 
with  the  French  and  Dutch  colonies;  yet  the  last  act  of  con- 
gress, before  its  adjournment,  was  the  renewal  of  the  agree- 
ment neither  directly  nor  indirectly  to  export  any  merchandise 
or  commodity  whatever  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  or  to  the 
British,  or  even  to  the  foreign.  West  Indies. 

On  the  first  day  of  August  congress  adjourned  for  five 
weeks,  leaving  the  insurgent  country  with  no  representative  of 
its  unity  but  Washington  and  the  army. 


in- 


im.         AMERICA  AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION.  247 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AMERICA   AWAITS   THE   KINg's   DECISION. 

July-October  1775. 

In  the  absence  of  a  continental  government,  and  with  a 
most  imperfect  one  in  ]\rassachusetts,  it  fell  on  Washington  to 
take  thouglit  for  his  army  from  its  general  direction  to  its 
smallest  want.  As  commander-in-chief,  he  scnipulously  obeyed 
the  continental  congress,  which,  from  its  inchoate  character, 
was  tardy,  feeble,  and  uncertain.  In  his  intercourse  with  the 
neighboring  colonial  governments,  whose  good-will  was  his 
main  resource,  he  showed  deference  to  their  laws  aiid  courtesy 
to  their  magistrates. 

By  the  fourth  of  August  the  army  was  formed  into  three 
divisions,  stationed  at  Roxbury,  Cambridge,  and  Winter  Hill, 
under  Ward,  Lee,  and  Putnam.  Each  division  consisted  of 
two  brigades,  each  brigade  of  about  six  regiments ;  but  the 
powder  on  hand  was  only  enough  to  furnib'h  each  man  with 
nine  rounds  of  cartridire. 

Between  the  twenty-fifth  of  July  and  the  seventh  of  Au- 
gust fourteen  hundred  riflemen  arrived  in  the  camp.  A  com- 
pany from  Virginia  had  for  its  captain  Daniel  Morgan,  who, 
in  1774,  had  gained  experience  in  war,  having  taken  ]mrt  in 
the  expedition  of  Dunmore.  In  person  he  was  more  than  six 
feet  high  and  well  proportioned,  of  an  imposing  presence, 
moving  with  strcngtii  and  grace,  of  a  hardy  constitution  that 
defied^  fatigue,  hunger,  and  cold.  His  open  countenance  was 
the  mirror  of  an  ingenuous  nature.  He  could  glow  witli  anger, 
but  was  never  mastered  by  it ;  his  disposition  was  sweet  and 
peaceful,  and  his  hospitable  liouse  was  the  home  of  cheerful- 


ITf!:|: 


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218         AUEniCA  ARMS  FOH  SELF-DEFEN'CE.      kp.  ■„. ,  c„.  ly,. 

Ittvi,  V"  ^'""'"'™  "'™  I'"'''"'"'"'  1'7  'lie  a,,,,ra,cl,  of  danger 

dM  im,,,.,,,,.,,  „f  d„„,„,,„  ^,„i,,,,,  ,,;,„  . ,  ^,  ^ 

mu,„»;  „„d  tl,o  oi.c,lk.„c.o  of  l,i.s  soldi...  was  but  a  ,-ot„™  If 

Hi'      ,7""'"   "'^f^^'   'l-'l.ln-o,.s;   |,i.  ieo„d,   Willia,u 

3  rf,  •"'■       ''"'■''  ^  ''■"'  '"•'"'■•'■  '^"l>l'»'-toU  by  thorn 

ctetoHn^'"'''  "'  '";';"'^-""''  "»>•>"%  ""'■'.•l.«l  from  Win- 
chester in  Vn-ginia  to  Cambridge. 

twenty  „t  1,18  old  coMipauious  in  arras  came  ewift  as  tlie  roe 
over  tie  monntaiiis;  the  rert  of  Ids  eo„>,,any  lie  pi  ked  frZ 
volmiteers  on  the  eistern  side;  „„d  witii\laLtlosi   p  Ht  tC 

of  a  maX,      t7  ^"*' t,"''  '"^  "■'^  '""•'^■'J  "•'"'  "■'=  '«>■'<>« 

bv  Price  wbo  r  T"""  ^'"'■•>'"""  ™"' W  was  commanded 
bj  I  lice  «bose  lieutenant  was  Otho  Holland  Williams. 

W    the  eigbt    companies    from    i>e,m«,lvania,    William 
Tliompsou  was  colonel.    The  second  in  cominaad  «  ,s  E,   3 

f"   1  is  s?a  civ  .    °  "'"T  ™  "°"''*''^'  '»'«  -mciirbci.d 
lor  nis  stdtciy  pereon  and  heroic  soul 

_   In  less  than  sixty  days  from  the  time  when  authority  was 
given  by  congress  for  their  enlistment,  twelve  com,"!  o 
riflemen  were  m  the  camp.    The  men  were  strong  an  1  o  '  rea 
endurance  many  of  them  moi.  than  si.x  feet  hi.?.;  Ay  wore 

d«fb;r:i'."°T"' ""  ™  ■■""'■"'"'"^"  i"."iing.;hirt  w  h : 

and  a  h  utei  s  kmfe.  Tliey  could  subsist  on  a  little  ,,arehed 
com,  with  game,  killed  as  they  went  along;  at  ni.l  wn,  'd 
m  their  blankets,  they  willingly  made  a  Le  the  r  lo  ;' '  e 
earth  then-  bed.    The  rifle  i„  their  han.ls  sent  its  ball\ri  1  'p 

was  .  L,ui..uTy  on  Di:ath,''  Tliey  were  the  lirat  troops  leried 
under  the  authority  of  the  continental  con.rre.,  and  thev 
formed  the  best  corps  in  the  camp.    Aceusto^^d  to  the  inZ 


1778.         AMERICA  AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION.  249 

pondencc  of  tl.o  woods,  tl.oj  gave  an  example  of  subordina- 
tion d.sciplmc  and  vigilance.     Enlisted  for  a  year  only,  many 
of  then.,  both  officers  and  n.en,  continned  in  the  servie^durinl 
the  wai^  and  distinguished  tliems.lves  in  ahnost  every  field    " 
rerformmg  no  one  act  of  courage  during  the' sunnncr, 
Gage  vented  Ins  ill  Innnor  on  his  unhappy  prisoners,  throwing 
offieers  of    ngh  rank  into  a  felon's  jail,  to  languish  ^f  wound! 
and  even  to  undergo  amputation.     Washington  pleaded  for 
kindnes.  and  humanity"  as  the  "joint  rule  for  their  treat- 
men   of  prisoners;"  but  Gage  scorned  to  pro.nise  reciprocity 
to  rebels,  "  uhose  lives,"  he  said,  ''by  the  laws  of  the  land  are 
destined  to  the  coi-d;"  nor  would  he  ack.iowledge  raidc  that 
was  not  denvcd_  froin  the  kiiig.      Washingtoii  asserted  the 
equality  of  American  oflicers  by  a  pnl>lic  oi-der  for  .-etaliation ; 
bnt  when  he  sent  the  Eritish  officci-s  who  wei-e  hi.  prisoners 
mto  tbe  intenoi-,  ho  privately  allowed  them  liberty  on  j.arole. 
Ihe  arrival  ot  re-enforcements  could  not  inspirit  Gage  to 
venture  outside  of  his  lines.     Presaging  ''a  long  and  bbody 
wai,    lie  confessed  to  Dartmouth  that  nothing  could  iustify 
risking  an  attack;  that  even  to  cpiit  Boston  safely  would  re- 
quire the  gi-eatest  secrecy;  bnt  he  enjoyed  the  triumph  of  cut- 
ting down  the  Boston  Liberty  Tree ;  and,  when  marauding  ex- 
peditions returned  with  sheep  and  liogs  and  cattle  captured 
from  islands,  the  bells  were  rung  as  for  a  victory 

The  war  gradually  spread  over  the  sea;  the  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island,  in  June,  fitted  out  two  armed  vessels ;  in  July 
Connecticut  oi-dercd  the  equipment  of  two  more.  In  the  same 
month  South  Carolina  and  (ieorgia  sent  cruiscis  to  watch  for 
a  ship  expected  with  gunpowder.  Most  of  the  colonies  had 
vessel,  out  on  similar  errands.  Early  in  August,  Washington 
propo^cd  that  Khode  Island  should  attempt  to  seize  a  piTblic 
magazine  in  Bermuda ;  for,  said  he,  '^  wc  are  in  a  cituation 
M-hich  requires  us  to  run  all  risks;"  but,  before  the  advice 
could  be  earned  out,  Geo,-ge  Ord,  in  a  sloop  despatched  from 
1  hiladelphia  by  Robert  Morris  under  pretence  of  a  tradino- 
voyage  to  New  Providence,  had  taken  the  magazine  by  sur- 
prise, and,  m  conjunction  with  a  schooner  from  SoutL  Caro- 
lina, had  brought  away  more  than  a  hundred  barrels  of  po^^•der 
On  the  ninth  the  Falcon,  a  British  sloop-of-w ar,  was  seen  from 


iiii  li; 


''I 


«iii 


111  ^M 


II 


fi' 


250         AMKIMCA  ARMS  FDR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  tii. ;  rn.  xvx. 

Ci\\)c  Ann  in  chase  of  two  schooners  hound  to  Ssileni.     One  of 
these  was  tiiken ;  ii  fair  wind  wafted  the  otlier  into  (Houeester 
harhor.     Liiizeo,  the  ciiptain  of  the  Falcon,  followed  with  his 
prize,  and,  after  anchorinjr,  w-nt  his  liciitciiant  and   thirty-six 
men  in  a  whale-boat  and  two  l)ar<j;es  to  hriii^j  under  his  Im.w  the 
schoojier  that  liiul  escaiied.     As  the  hargenicn  hoarded  her  at 
bcr  ciibin  windows,  men  from  the  shore  fired  on  them,  killing 
three  and  wounding  the  lieutenant  in  the  thinh.     Linzee  sen't 
his  prize  and  a  cutter  to  cannonade  the  town.     They  did  littlo 
injury;  while  'he  (Jloucester  men,  with  the  loss  of  hut  two, 
took  both  schooners,  the  cutter,  the  ])arges,  and  ovovy  man 
in  them,  Linzeo  losing  half  his  crew.     On  the  second  of  Sep- 
tember, Washington  ordered  Ih-oughton,  of  Marblehead,  as  an 
army  cai)tain,  "to  take  command  of  a  detachment  of  the  army 
of  the  United  Colonies,"  in  a  schooner  C(piipped  at  the  conti- 
nental exi)cnse,  and  to  intercept  all  vessels  laden  with  sup- 
plies  for  the  Uritish  army.     Other  naval  otlicei's  were  employed 
more  directly  nnder  the  federal  authority,  and  with  good  suc- 
cess. 

The  life  of  Washington  in  Cam])ri(lgo  "waf?  one  continual 
round  of  vexation  and  fatigue."     The  troops  of  Connecticut 
and  Ehode  Island  wei-e  engaged  only  to  the  iirst  of  Uecendjcr, 
those  of  Massachnsotts  only  to  the  end  of  the  year;  :,id  no 
provision  had  been  made  for  filling  their  places.     Of  <  .o  conti- 
nental currency,  the  paymaster  had  not  a  dollar  in  1  ,nd.    The 
commissary-gencnd  had  strained  his  credit  to  the  j-tmost  for 
subsistence  for  the  army  ;  so  had  mWllu,  who  in  August  had 
been  appointed  quartermaster-general.     The  stated  allowance 
to  the  troops  was  from  necessity  reduced.     For  the  coming  win- 
ter there  were  no  adequate  means  of  procuring  blankets,  shelter, 
and  fuel.     Tlie  country  expected  tidings  of  the  expulsion  of 
the  British  from  l^oston  when  the  want  of  powder  compelled 
inactivity.    The  general  might  have  shielded  h-'s  good  name  by 
lotting  the  truth  be  known,  but  the  public  cause  would  have 
suffered  ;  and  "  braving  the  shafts  of  censure,  and  pledging  a 
soldier's  fame,  which  was  dearer  to  him  than  life,"  be  sub- 
mitted in  silence  to  the  reproach  of  having  adopted  from 
choice  the  system  of  inaction  at  which  his  soul  revolted. 

In  :N'ew  Jersey,  the  popular  government  moved  side  by 


n, 


177B.         AMERICA  AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION.  251 

side  with  tluit  of  tlio  kin<^.  Tho  provinciiil  congress,  which 
assciubled  in  May  and  a^^ain  in  Auij^nst,  directed  a  general 
association,  took  cognizance  of  those  who  hekl  back,  aKsnnied 
the  rcgulaticjn  of  tlie  militia,  apportioned  i<  levy  of  ten  tliou- 
wmd  ])ounds,  excused  tho  (^nakerb  trom  ^.tjaring  anns  thou'di 
not  from  contributing  to  relieve  ' -t^  ^,  and,  by  providing 
for  the  yearly  ele(!tion  of  its  suecoo.sc  .  ^ered  from  the  olo 
nial  legislature  the  appointmeni.  of  luiuro  delegates  to  tho 
general  congress.  In  October,  iIk-  i  s^  provincial  congress, 
chosen  by  the  'jualilied  voters  of  eaeu  county,  enrolled  two 
regiments  for  tho  continental  service.  AVilliani  Alexander, 
commonly  called  the  carl  of  Stirling,  a  member  of  tlie  royal 
council,  a  man  of  courage,  intelligence,  and  promptitude,  en- 
tered the  army  as  colonel  of  the  battalion  of  East  New  Jer- 
sey. The  expenses  were  met  by  a  reluctant  issue  of  thirty 
thousand  pounds  in  bills  of  credit. 

Of  Pennsylvania  the  first  convention,  in  June  1774,  aimed 
at  no  continuing  political  organization,  and  referred  the  choice 
of  delegates  to  congress  to  the  house  of  representatives,  in 
which  loyalists  formed  tho  majority.  At  the  second  conven- 
tion, held  in  January  1775,  tho  president,  Joseph  Tvced,  ex- 
erted all  his  inlluence,  in  public  and  in  private,  to  defeat  the 
intention  of  arming  tho  province ;  and  desired  to  bo  known 
to  tho  ministry  as  a  person  who,  thougli  opposed  to  parlia- 
mentary taxation,  had  such  weight  and  intlucnce  in  the  prov- 
ince that  tho  British  govcrnnunt  npon  tho  whole  might  wish 
him  to  be  on  their  side.  Dickinson  did  not  make  his  ap- 
pearance in  the  meeting  till  tho  day  before  its  dissolution, 
and  then  only  to  ward  off  tho  taunts  of  his  enemies.  Tho 
conunittco  of  Philadelphia  was  empowered  to  give  notice,  if  a 
provincial  congress  should  again  become  necessary;  all  else 
was  left  to  the  legislature. 

So  long  as  the  continental  congress  strove  to  avoid  a  total 
rupture  with  England,  tho  wealth  and  social  influence  of  Phila- 
delphia made  connnon  cause  with  tho  family  of  Ponn,  who, 
from  their  interests  and  their  position,  were  the  most  sincere 
friends  to  conciliation  with  Britain.  This  policy  received  the 
support  of  Dickinson,  who  claimed  to  lead  tho  patriot  party 
of  Pennsylvania^      But  the  system  rested  on  a  contradiction. 


[A, 


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262         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xvi. 

The  proprietaries  had  tiej  of  loyalty  to  Britain  which  they 
never  would  break  ;  and  Dickinson  had  pled-ed  himself  not  to 
hiy  down  arms  till  the  rights  of  America  should  be  redeemed. 
His  coalition  with  the  proprietary  party  could  last  o:.ly  so  lono- 
as  a  hope  remained  of  a  reconciliation  between  America  and  the 
king.  When  this  illusion  shall  vanish,  the  proprietaries  must 
adhere  to  the  king,  and  Pennsylvania  transfer  the  direction  of 
Its  affairs  to  a  popular  convention.  The  house  in  June  ap- 
pointed a  committee  of  safety  with  Dickinson  at  its  head,  and 
placed  at  its  disposition  thirty-five  thousand  pounds  in  bills 
of  credit.  At  the  adjourned  session  in  Se])tember,  energetic 
memorials  from  private  meetings  were  laid  on  the  table. 

The  assembly  of  Delaware  assented  to  keeping  up  an 
armed  force,  and  unanimously  assumed  their  share  of  the  ex- 
pense. Its  first  convention,  its  assembly,  and  its  council  of 
safety,  moved  onward  in  harmony. 

The  people  of  Maryland  intrusted  the  conduct  of  resist- 
ance to  a  series  of  conventions.      All  parties  acquiesced  in 
the  prmciplo  of  deriving  power  from  the  people ;   and  the 
province,  though  its  movement  was  sometimes  retarded,  ]n-o- 
ceeded  in  an  unbroken  line.      In  ^S^vember  1774,  its' con- 
vention adhered  to  the   association  adopted  in  the  general 
congress.     At  an  adjourned  session  in  December,  fiftj-five 
members  being  present   from   sixteen  counties,   it  resolved 
unanimously  to  resist   to  the  utmost  ahke,  taxation  by  par- 
hament  and  the  enforcement  of  the  penal  acts  against  Mas- 
sachusetts; and  voted  with  equal  unanimity  a  iniUtia,  to  be 
composed  of  all  the  freemen  of  the  colony  between  fifteen 
and  sixty.     It  resolved  that  all  former  difficulties  about  reli- 
gion or  politics  from  henceforth  should  cease,  and  be  forever 
buried  in  oblivion ;  so  that,  with  the  establishment  of  the  re- 
public, the  Catholic  had  the  assurance  of  recovering  his  right- 
ful political  equality  in  the  land  whicli  a  Catholic  propriebry 
had  set  apart  for  reli-    .rs  freedom.     Charles  Carroll  of  Car- 
rollton,  who  had  not  ha-,  so  much  as  a  vote  at  the  polls,  was 
placed  unanimously  on  the  committee  of  correspondence. 

A  leading  part  was  taken  by  Samuel  Chase.  By  profession 
a  lawyer,  in  character  he  was  downright,  brave,  and  pcrscver- 
ing;  capable  of  error  from  rashness,  or  prejudice,  or  self-will, 


1-775.         AMERICA  AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION.  253 


approved.    Of  a 


but  not  of  faltering  in  the  cause  wliicli 

Avarm  and  impatient  teuiperanicnt,  lie  did  n   „„„ 

invective ;  but  liis  energy,  his  scorn  of  plausible  hypocrisy,  his 
eloquence,  justly  won  for  him  public  confidence.  In  April  1775, 
a  day  or  two  Ijefoi-c  the  arrival  of  news  from  Lexington,  on  oc- 
casion of  a  rumor  that  New  York  city  was  to  be  fortified  and 
garrisoned,  the  Maryland  convention  gave  their  delegates  discre- 
tion to  proceed  "  even  to  the  last  extremity,  if  indispensably 
necessary  for  the  safety  and  preservation  of  "their  liberties  and 
privileges."  The  proprietary  at  this  time  was  an  illegitimate 
infant  child  of  the  late  liberthie  Lord  Baltimore,  the  last  of 
that  name ;  and  it  might  seem  a  shame  to  a  conunonwealth 
that  its  executive  power  should  be  transferable  to  such  an  one 
by  testamentary  disposition.  Yet  the  proprietary  pai-fy  had 
struck  deep  root.  The  pradent  li-utenant-governor,  Robert 
Eden,  ac(piicseed  in  what  he  could  not  prevent  or  alter ;  and 
both  he  and  the  proprietary  party  wore  treated  as  neutrals. 

The  convention  which  met  at  Annapolis  on  the  twentv- 
sixth  of  July,  seeing  •'  no  alternative  but  base  submission  or 
manly  resistance,"  "approved  of  the  opposition  by  arujs  to 
British  troops."  The  temporary  govermnent  which  was  in- 
stituted was,  in  its  form,  a  universal  association  of  the  people 
of  Maryland,  one  by  one.  Eecognising  the  continental  con- 
gress as  invested  with  a  general  suj:)ervision,  it  managed  intei-nal 
affairs  through  a  provincial  council  of  safety,  and  subordinate 
executive  committees,  which  were  aj^pointed  in  every  couutv, 
parish,  or  hundred.  It  directed  the  eiu'olment  of  ^orty  coin- 
panies  of  minute-men;  estabhshed  a  ujilitary  code;  and  au- 
tliorized  the  enZ-sion  in  pa])er  of  moj-e  than  a  quarter  of  a 
million  of  dollars.  It  extended  the  franchise  to  all  freemen 
having  a  visible  estate  of  forty  pounds  sterlin-,  and  Protestant 
and  Catholic  thenceforward  went  to  the  poll'i  togetli  -r.  The 
government  thus  instituted  was  administered  with  rc'ularity 
and  lenity.  '^ 

In  Virginia,  the  retreat  of  the  governor  from  Vrilliamsburg 
foreshadowed  the  end  of  the  colonial  system.  On  the  twcnty- 
fourth  of  July.  Dunmore  sununoned  the  house  bcfo'--  him  at 
what  he  called  "  his  present  residence,"  that  is,  on  board  of  a 
British  man-of-war;  unless  they  would  come,  he  would  not 


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25i         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xvi. 

give  his  assent  ccn  to  snch  of  their  acts  as  he  approved.  Had 
they  appeared,  the  legislature  might  have  found  themselves 
ke])t  as  hostages.  The  message  could  not  but  be  voted  unani- 
mously a  high  breach  of  the  rights  of  the  house.  In  concur- 
rence with  the  council,  the  house  appropriated  money  for  the 
expense  of  ratifying  the  treaty  with  the  Indians  on  tlie  Ohio, 
and  then  adjourned  till  the  twelfth  of  October ;  but  no  quoruui 
ever  again  assembled.  In  the  one  hundred  and  lifty-sixth  year 
from  the  institution  of  legislative  govermnont  in  Virginia*  the 
king,  in  the  person  of  his  governor,  abdicated  his  legislative 
power  m  the  oldest  and  most  loyal  of  his  colonies. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  July  1775,  its  people  'assembled  at 
Kichmond  m  a  convention.     Every  procedure  was  marked  by 
that  mixture  of  courage  and  moderation  which  in  tiiiK\s  of 
revolution  is  the  omen  of  success.     The  military  preparations 
had  nothing  in  view  beyond  defence.     Tu'o  regiments  of  regu- 
lar troops  in  fifteen  companies  were  called  into  being ;  sixteen 
regiments  of  minute-men  were  to  keep  themselves  in  readi- 
ness for  actual  service.     To  the  command  of  the  lii-st  rep-imeat 
of  regulars  the  convention  elected  Patrick  Henry.     Foi-  the 
relief  of  scnipulous  consciences  in  the  armv,  it  was  made  an 
instruction  that  dissenting  clergymen  might  act  as  chaplains. 
Delegates  to  serve  in  general  congress  for  a  vear  were  elected, 
and  among  them  once  more  Richard  Bland.      Of  the  '^ame 
Imeage  with  Giles  Eland  who  ninety-nine  years  before   had 
perished   as  a   martyr  to   liberty,  trained  in   the   college  of 
W  ilham  and  I\Iary,  and  afterward  in  the  university  of  Edin- 
burgh, he  was  venerable  from  a  long  career  in  the  service  of 
civil  liberty.      In  17(10   he  had  displaved  the   rights  of   the 
colonies  with  vigor  and  foresight.     Ilis  deep  blue  eyes  are 
now  dnnmed  ;  his  step  has  lost  its  certaintv ;  he  rises  to  decline 
the  appomtment,  and  the  convention  hangs  on  his  words.    "  My 
country's  appio])ation  shall  ever  animate  me,  as  far  as  I  am 
able,  to  support  the  glorious  cause  in  which  America  is  now 
engaged;  but  advanced  age  renders  me  incapable  of  an  active 
part  m  the  great  council  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  I  desire 
that  some  abler  person  may  sup])lv  mv  ])lace."     The  conven- 
tion, unanimously  thankii.g  him  for  his  fidelitv,  released  him 
from  further  service.     A  strong  party,  at  the  head  of  which 


255 


succes- 


ITio.         AMERICA  AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION. 

were  ircniy,  Jefferson,  and  Carriiigton,  turned  for  Li 
sor  to  George  IVFason,  a  man  of  jet  rarer  virtues,  now  for  the 
first  time  a  member  of  a  political  body.    He  was  a  patriot  who 
renounced  ambition,  making  no  quest  of  fame,  never  appearing 
in  public  life  but  from  a  sense  of  duty  and  for  a  great  end. 
"He  will  not  refuse,"  said  Jefferson  andllenry,  "  if  ordered  by 
Ins  country."     As  he  pleaded  an  overwhelming  domestic  grief 
for  his  refusal,  tears  ran  down  the  presiding'ofFicei-'s  cheeks 
and  the  convention  listened  to  him  with  the  sympathy  of  a 
family  circle.     In  his  stead  he  reconmicnded  Francis  Lee,  who 
was  accordingly  chosen,  yet  only  by  one  vote  over  a  candidate 
noted  for  dread  o""  a  democratic  republic.     In  the  election  of 
the  committee  of  safety  Edmund  Pendleton,  who  was  known 
to  desire  "  a  redress  of  grievances  and  not  a  revolution  of  gov- 
ernment," was  placed  at  its  head. 

To  defray  the  charges  of  the  late  Indian  Avar,  and  to  provide 
for  defence,  Virginia,  following  the  general  example,  directed 
an  emission  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  pounds  in  pa- 
per currency,  the  smallest  bill  to  be  for  one  shilling  and  three- 
pence. Geoi-ge  Mason  urged  the  continuance  of  the  land-tax 
and  the  poll-tax,  which  would  have  annually  sunk  fifty  thou- 
sand pounds  ;  but  taxation  was  suspended  for  a  year. 

The  convention  once  more  declared  before  God  and  the 
world  that  they  would  defc.nid  their  king  and  his  government 
as  founded  on  the  constitution  ;  but  that  they  were^determined 
to  maintain  their  just  rights  and  privileges,  even  at  the  ex- 
tremest  hazards. 

Loi-d  William  Campbell,  the  new  royal  governor  of  South 
Carolina,  put  himself  under  the  direction  of  the  ]iassionato 
and  violent  among  his  irresponsible  snijordinates.  He  turned 
away  from  Eiill,  the  prudent  lieute  nut-governor,  and  would 
not  notice  the  elements  for  cr.nciliatioi...  nor  heed  the  advice 
of  the  considerate  and  best  iidTincd.  The  patriot  council  of 
safety  earnestly  desi,-Hl  to  iwoul  f?-  necessity  of  indei)en- 
dence  ;  but  the  governor  wrotj  home  that  "  the  people  of  the 
best  sense  and  the  grjaivst  authority,  as  well  as  the  rabble, 
had  been  gradually  led  [-v-  ilip  most  violent  measures  by  a 
set  of  desperate  nud  dc^i^ning  :aon." 

On  the  tenth  of  July,  nft.r  intercepted  letters  had  re 


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250  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFK NCE.      ep.  in. ;  en.  xvi. 

voaled  the  tampcrinor  of  British  a-ents  witli  Indians,  and  tid- 
iii^'s  Jiad  arrived  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  (:anii)bell  met 
Jus  first  legislature,  and  h.aid  to  them :  "  I  warn  yon  of  the 
danger  you  are  in  of  drawing  down  inevita])lc  ruin  on  this 
flourishing  colony."  The  assembly  lingered  inactive  throuo-h 
tlie  snmraor,  asking  in  vain  to  be  adjourned.  ° 

The  residents  in  tlie  low  country  were  unanimously  patri- 
ots ;  but  in  the  districts  of  Camden  and  I\'inety-Six  lie  was  as- 
sured that  thousands  were  animated  by  affection  to  the  kino- 
From  the  line  of  the  Catawba  and  Wateree  to  the  CV)ngaree 
and  Saluda,  and  all  the  way  to  Georgia,  the  rude  settlers  were 
chiefly  herdsmen  and  dissenters.    A  body  of  Germans,  who  oc- 
cupied Saxe-Gotha  on  the  Congaree,  looked  to  the  king  as  their 
landlord,  and  desired  not  to  risk  an  ejectment ;  others,  recently 
escaped  from  i)overty  in  Europe,  cared  mainly  for  subsistence 
and  quiet.     AVest  of  Orangeburg  there  had  l)eou  no  represen- 
tation of  the  inhabitants,  who,  as  a  class,  were  newly  arrived 
aiul  untrained  in  public  life.     Partisans  of  tlie  crown— Fletch- 
all,  the  very  active  and  spirited  Bobert  Cumiingham,  Patrick 
Cunningliam,  and  others—strove  to  fill  the  minds  of  these  rude 
husbandmen  with  bitterness  against  "  the  gentlemen ; "  tlie  coun- 
cil of  safety  sent  William  Henry  Drayton  and  a  clei-gyman, 
\Vdliau:  Teimeut,  to  counteract  them,  and  the  smnnier  was 
passed  in  indecisive  struggles.     Fort  Augusta,  in  Georgia,  was 
taken  and  held  by  the  Americans.     At  .\inety-Six  quiet  was 
restored  by  a  truce  rather  than  l)y  the  subnn'ssion  of  the  royal- 
ists.    It  M-as  at  this  time  that  Andrew  Pickens  was  first  heard 
of  as  a  captain  in  arms ;  a  Puritan  in  religion,  a  patriot  lu 
thought  and  deed.     On  the  otlier  hand,  I\roses  Kirkland  took 
down  to  Campbell  the  assurance  thiit  a  British  force  would  he 
jonicd  by  four  thousand  men,  and  was  nmt  to  concert  with 
Gage  an  expedition  against  South  Carolina. 

_  The  discovery  that  a  large  l)ody  of  savages  stood  ready  to 
seize  the  scal])ing-knife  at  the  king's  behest  set  the  community 
of  South  Carolina  in  a  blaze.  One  of  the  last  acts  of  Gage  was 
to  write  to  Stuart,  the  Indian  agent  for  the  southern  depart- 
ment:  "The  people  of  Carolina,  in  turning  rebels  to  their 
king,  have  hx-t  all  faiti  when  opportunity  offers,  make  the 
Indians  take  arms  against  his  majesty's  enemies,  and  d:stress 


1775.         AMERICA   AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION.  257 

them  all  in  their  power.  Supply  them  with  what  they  want, 
be  the  expense  what  it  will,  as  every  exertion  must  now  be 
made  on  the  side  of  government."  On  receiving  this  order, 
Stuart  sent  by  way  of  Pcnsacola  to  the  ^wer  Creeks  and  even 
to  the  Chickasas  ;  to  the  upper  Creeks  and  their  great  chief ; 
to  the  Little  Tallassees,  and  to  the  Overhill  Cherokees  and 
their  assembled  chiefs,  to  lavish  on  them  ammunition  and 
promises  of  honor  and  favor  that  they  might  be  ready  "  to  act 
in  the  execution  of  any  concerted  plan  for  distressing  the 
rebels."  ^^Cameron,^  the  deputy  agent,  shrunk  fi-om  the  task, 
saymg :  "  I  pmy  God  there  may  be  no  intention  to  involve 
tiie  Cherokees  hi  the  dispute;  for  the  Indians  could  not  be 
restrained  fi-om  committing  the  most  inhuman  barbarities  on 
women  and  children.  I  am  averse  to  acts  of  this  nature, 
though  my  duty  to  my  sovereign  exceeds  all  other  considera- 
tions." 

The  council  of  safety  slowly  admitted  the  need  of  defending 
the  harbor  of  Charleston.     During  the  summer  more  than 
twenty  thousand  pounds  of  gunpowder  were  taken  from  Brit- 
ish vessels  which  were  boarded  off  Savannah  river  and  near  St. 
Augustine.     The  ex])ort  of  rice  was  allowed  on  no  other  term  i 
than  that  it  sliould  be  exchanged  for  arms  and  annnmiition, 
^  hich  were  obtained  from  Ilispaniola  and  from  the  French  and 
i     tch  islands.     All  who  refused  the  association  were  disarmed, 
p    ;n  though  they  wore  in  the  service  of  the  crown.     On  the 
..lirteenth  of   September,  just   after  a  full  discovery  of  the 
mtrigues  of  the  governor  with  the  country  people,  his  arrest 
was  proposed ;  the  motion  was  defeated  in  the  general  com- 
mittee, through  the  opposition  of  Eawlins  Lowndes,  by  a  vote 
of  twenty-three  against  sixteen  ;   but  ^he  council  of  safety 
ordered  AVilliam  Moultrie,  colonel  of  the  second  refjiment,  to 
talce  possession  of  Fort  Johnson,  on  James  Island!    Aware 
of  the  design,  the  governor,  on  the  fifteenth  of  September, 
ha\ang  suddenly  dlo  olved  the  last  royal  assembly  ever  held 
m  South  Carolina,  fled  for  refuge  to  comfortless  quarters  on 
board  the  small  man-of-w^ir,  tho  Tamer.      Durir.g  the   pre- 
vious night  three  companies  dirpped  down  with  the  ebb  tide 
from  Gadsden's  wharf,  landed  on  Jar    =  Island,  and  entered 
the  fort,  in  which  but  tlirce  or  four  men  remained.     Lord 

VOL.    IV.— 17 


'■! 


^H: 

1     \ 

1  '  :'^ 

|^<i 

■f 

i 

< 

258  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


KP.  III. ;  en.  XVI. 


1     9 


William  Cain])bcll  sent  liis  secretary  in  the  boat  of  the  Tamer, 
to  demand  "  by  what  anthority  they  had  taken  jwssession  of 
his  majesty's  fort ; "  and  an  ollicer  answered  :  ''  AVe  are  Ameri- 
can troops,  nnder  Lientenant-Colonel  Motte  ;  we  hold  the  fort 
by  the  express  command  of  the  council  of  safety."  "  By  whom 
is  this  message  given  ?  "  Without  hesitation  the  ofiicer  re- 
plied :  "  I  am  Charles  Cotesworth  Pinekney ; "  and  the  names 
of  Motte  and  Pinekney  figured  in  the  next  desi)atches  oi  the 
governor.  iNloultrie  gave  directions  for  a  large  blue  flag  with  a 
crescent  in  the  nght-hand  corner.  A  schooner  was  stationed 
between  Fort  Johnson  and  the  town,  to  intercept  the  man-of- 
war's  boats.  A  post  was  established  at  Iladdrell's  Point,  and 
a  fort  on  Sullivan's  island  was  proposed.  The  tents  on  James 
Island  contained  at  least  five  humlred  men,  well  armed  and 
clad,  strictly  disciplined,  and  instructed  not  merely  in  the  use 
of  the  nnisket,  but  the  exercise  of  the  great  guns.  The  king's 
arsenal  supplied  cannon  and  balls.  New  gun-carriages  were 
soon  constructed,  for  the  mechanics,  almost  to  a  man,  were 
hearty  in  the  cause,  and  himdreds  of  negro  laborers  were 
brought  in  from  tlie  country  to  assist  in  work.  jS''oue  stopped 
to  calculate  expense. 

In  JS^orth  Carolina,  fourth  among  the  thirteen  colonies  in 
importance,  all  classes,  for  the  distance  of  a  hundred  miles  from 
the  sea,  were  penetrated  with  entluisiasm  for  liberty.  ]\Ien 
whom  royalists  revered  as  of  "the  first  order  of  people  in 
the  country,"  of  unblemished  integrity  and  earnest  character, 
loyal  by  nature,  after  thoughtful  consideration  decided  irre- 
vocably against  the  right  of  the  British  pai'liament  to  tax  the 
colonies.  In  Brunswick  county,  Robert  Howe,  formerly  cap- 
tain of  Fort  Johnston,  employed  himself  in  training  the  peo- 
ple to  arms.  At  Newbem,  the  capital  whose  name  kept  in 
memory  that  its  founders  were  from  Switzerland,  volunteers 
formed  themselves  into  independent  companies. 

On  the  waters  of  Albemarle  sound,  over  which  the  adven- 
turous skills  of  the  first  settlers  of  Carolina  had  glided  before 
the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  were  known  to  Englishmen,  the 
movement  was  assisted  by  the  writings  of  young  James  Ire- 
dell from  England,  by  the  letters  and  counsels  of  Joseph 
Ilewes,  and  by  the  calm  wisdom  of  Samuel  Johnston  of  Eden- 


ii 


;.^; 


1773.  AMERICA   AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISION. 


259 


Ggril 


tive  of  Dundee  in  Scotland,  a  man  revered  for  his  in- 
_  lioroughly  opposed  to  revolution  if  it  could  be  avoided 
without  yielding  to  oppression.  Using  a  power  with  which 
the  last  provincial  congress  had  invested  him,  on  the  tenth 
ot  July  he  summoned  the  j^eople  of  North  Carolina  to  elect 
tlieir  delegates.  Two  days  later  Dartmouth  wrote  from  the 
king:  "1  hope  that  in  North  Carolina  the  governor  may  not 
be  reduced  to  the  disgraceful  necessity  of  seeking  protection 
on  board  the  king's  ships;"  and  just  then  Martin  took  refuse 
on  board  a  British  man-of-war. 

Richard  CasxvcW,  hastening  home  from  the  general  congress 
and  reluctantly  admitting  the  necessity  of  American  resist- 
ance  advised  the  most  resolute  conduct,  and  even  censured 
the  Newbern  committee  for  suffering  the  governor  to  escape. 

On  the  twenty.first  of  August  the  people  of  North  Caro- 
Ima  assembled  at  Hillsborough  in  a  convention  of  more  than 
one  luiiulrcd  and  eighty  members.     A  spirit  of  moderation 
controlled  their  zeal;  Caswell  proposed  Samuel  Johnston  as 
president,  and  he  was  unanimously  elected.    In  a  vituperative, 
incoherent  proclamation,  Martin  had  warned  them  against  as- 
sembling, as  tending  to  unnatural  rebellion  ;   they  vt)ted  his 
proclamation  "  a  false  and  seditious  libel,"  and  ordered  it  to  be 
burnt  by  the  hangman.      They  professed   allegiance  to  the 
king,  and  resistance  to  parliamentary  taxation.     They  resolved 
that  the  people  of  the  province,  singly  and  collectivelv,  were 
bound  by  the  acts  of  the  continental  congress  and  their  pro- 
vincial  convention,  because  in  both   they  were  represented 
by  persons  cliosen  by  themselves.     The  religious  and  political 
scruples   of  the   regulators  ^vero   removed   by  a   conference 
Intrigues  of  Mavfm  with  the  Highlanders  were  divulged  by 
^arrpihard  Campbell;  and  a  committee,  on  which  were  many 
Scots,  urged  tliem,  not  wholly  without  success,  to  unite  with 
the  other  iiiliabitant3  of  America  in  defence  of  riglits  derived 
from  Clod  and  the  constitution.     The  meditated  resistance  in- 
volved a  treasury  which  for  the  time  wps  supplied  1,v  an  emis- 
sion of  papar  money ;  the  purchase  of  ammunition  and  arms  • 
a  regular  force  of  one  thousand  men ;  an  organization  of  the 
rmlitia  of  the  colony;    an  annual  provincial  congress  to  be 
elected  by  all   freeholders ;   a  committee  of  safety  for  each 


11 

1   ^ 

i 

'    !! 

;';  Y 

V    |! 

!    I 


I 


260         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.      ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xvi. 


■ 


! 


of  the  six  districts  into  which  the  province  Avas  divided ;  a  pro- 
vinciiil  coiiiicil,  consistinj^  of  tiie  president  of  the  convention 
and  two  members  fi'oni  eucli  of  the  six  divinions,  as  the  great 
executive  power,  liichard  Caswell  was  detained  for  service 
at  home,  and  John  Penn,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  became  his 
successor  in  tlic  general  congress. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  Franklin's  })lan  of  a  confederacy  was 
introduced  by  AVilliam  Hooper,  a  native  of  Boston;  trained 
under  James  Otis  to  tlie  profession  of  the  law ;  now  a  citizen 
of  Wilmington,  "the  region  of  politenesi^  and  hospitality." 
The  jiroposition  wius  about  to  be  adopted  when  Johnston  inter- 
posed, and,  on  the  fourth  of  September,  it  was  voted,  but  not 
unanimously,  that  a  general  confederation  ought  only  to  bo 
adopted  in  the  last  necessity.  Hooper  acquiesced;  and  the 
house,  in  its  address  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  em])iro, 
unanimously  disavowed  the  desire  of  independence,  asking 
only  to  be  restored  to  the  state  existing  before  1703. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  October  the  provincial  council  held 
its  first  meeting.  Among  its  mombors  were  Samuel  Johnston ; 
Scmuel  Ashe,  whose  name  a  mountain  county  and  the  fairest 
town  in  the  western  part  of  the  connnonwealth  kec]}  in 
memory ;  and  Abner  Nash,  an  eminent  lawyer,  doscrib^'d  by 
Martin  as  "the  oracle  of  the  connnitteo  of  Newberu  and  a 
principal  promoter  of  sedition ; "  the  perilous  olhco  of  presi- 
dent fell  unanimously  to  Cornelius  JIarnett  of  New  Hanover, 
who  was  honored  as  "  the  Samuel  Adams  of  North  Carolina." 
Thus  prepared,  the  people  of  the  colony  awaited  the  ansv:'er 
to  the  last  petition  of  congress  to  the  king. 

During  the  first  weeks  of  July  neither  the  court  nor  the 
ministei-s  nor  the  people  had  taken  a  real  alarm.  Even  Ed- 
mund Burke  believed  that  Gage,  from  his  discipline  and  artil- 
lery as  well  as  his  considerable  numbers,  would  l)cat  "  the  raw 
American  troops."  An  hour  before  noon  of  the  twenty-fifth 
tidings  of  the  Bunker  Hill  battle  reached  the  cabinet,  and 
spread  rapidly  through  the  kingdom  and  through  Europe. 
"  Tavo  more  such  victories,"  said  Vergennes,  "  and  England 
will  have  no  army  left  in  America." 

Gage  was  recalled.  The  command  in  America  was  assigned 
in  Canada  to  Carlcton,  in  the  thirteen  colonies  to  Howe.     Ten 


Ten 


1775.  AMEIIIOA   AWAITS  THE  KING'S  DECISIOl^.  2G1 

thousand  pounds  and  an  additional  nupply  of  three  thousand 
anus  were  forwarded  to  Quebee ;  and,  notwithstanding  a  cau- 
tion from  Uarrington,  word  was  sent  to  Carleton  tha^t  it  was 
"hoped  the  next  spring  to  have  in  North  America  an  army  of 
twenty  thousand  men,  exchisive  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians." 
The  king,  as  elector  of  Hanover,  in  August  made  the  first  con- 
tribution. By  garrisoning  (iibraltar  and  Miuorca  with  five 
battalions  of  electoral  infantry,  he  disengaged  an  ecjual  number 
of  IJritish  ti-oops  for  service  in  America.  The  embarkation  of 
the  Hanoverians  was  courteously  promoted  by  the  senate  of 
Hamburg.     Not  till  the  first  of  November  did  they  sail. 

The  reply  to  Bunker  Hill  from  England  reached  Washing- 
toil  before  the  end  of  September ;  and  removed  from  his  mind 
every  doubt  of  tlie  necessity  of  independence.  So  reasoned 
(ireenc ;  and  the  army  was  imi)atient  Avheii  any  of  the  chap- 
lains prayed  for  the  king.  The  general  congress,  Aviiich  as- 
sembled in  September,  was  undecided.  Intercq)ted  letters  of 
John  Adams,  in  which  he  had  freely  unbosomed  his  com- 
plaints  of  its  tardiness  and  hud  thrown  blame  on  Dickinson, 
brought  upon  the  New  Enghmd  statesman  the  hostility  of 
the  i)roprietary  party  and  of  social  opinion  in  Philadelphia. 
When  a  "jealousy  of  New  England"  broke  forth  iu  con- 
gress, and  a  member  insinuated  distrust  of  its  people,  "as 
artful  and  designing  men,  altogether  pursuing  selfish  pur- 
poses,"  Oadsden  answered  :  "  I  only  wish  we  would  imitate 
instead  of  abusing  them ;  so  far  from  being  under  any  appre- 
hensions, I  bless  God  there  is  such  a  people  in  America." 

The  prohibition  by  parliament  of  the  fisheries  of  New 
England,  and  the  restriction  on  the  trade  of  the  southern  colo- 
nies, went  into  effect  on  the  twentieth  of  July :  as  a  measure  of 
counteraction,  the  ports  of  America  should  have  been  thrown 
open  ;  but,  though  secret  directions  were  given  for  importing 
powder  and  arms  from  "  the  foreign  West  Indies,"  the  commit- 
tee on  trade  was  not  appointed  till  the  twenty-second  of  Sep- 
tember, and  then  hesitated  to  act. 

The  roll  of  the  army  at  Cambridge  had,  from  its  first  for- 
mation, borne  the  names  of  men  of  color,  but  as  yet  without 
legislative  appr()val.     On  the  twenty-sixth  Edward  Rufledge, 

ue":roes  in 


of  South  Cankiiina,  moved  the  discharge  of  all  the 


I! 


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202 


AMEltICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFKN'CE, 


EP.  m. ;  cii,  xvi. 


iho  army,  iiiid  Iw  wa.s  strongly  supported  by  many  of  thu 
Houthorn  (IfK-atcs;  but  tlio  opposition  was  so  dctcrminud  tLut 
"  ho  Inst  his  ijoint/' 

From  an  nnconfcsscd  want  of  (."iTectivo  power,  tlio  contl- 
nontal  congres.^  shrnnlc  from  taldng  into  consideration  the  "in- 
expressibly distressing"  situation  of  the  eommander-in-eliief. 
At  Icngtli  a  letter  from  him  compelled  attention  to  the  critical 
state  of  his  army.  Powder,  artillery,  fuel,  shelter,  clothing, 
provisions,  and  the  soldiers'  pay  were  wanting;  and,  except 
the  riflemen,  all  the  troops,  by  the  terms  of  tl'ieir  enlistment, 
must  be  disbanded  on  or  before  the  end  of  Decendter.  For 
this  state  of  things  congress  could  provide  tio  adeipuite  reme- 
dy. On  the  thirtieth  of  Septendjer  they  therefore  appointed 
Franklin,  J.ynch,  and  Harrison  a  committee  to  repair  to  the 
camp,  aiul,  with  the  New  Fngland  colonies  and  AVashington, 
to  devise  a  method  for  eidisting  the  army  anew. 

Gage,  ()n   the  tenth  of  October,  cnd)arked  for  England, 
and,  on  his  arrival,  was  dismissed  into  retirement  witiriiigh 
rank  and  its  emoluments.    The  instructions  to  Howe,  the  new 
commander-in-chief,  advised  the  transfer  of  the  war  to  New 
York  ;    l)ut,  from  the  advanced  state  of  the  seaison,  and  the 
want  of  sullicient  transports,  he  decided  to  winter  at  lioston. 
Five  days  after  the  departure  of  Oago  the  couunittec  from 
congress  arrived  at  the  camp.     Franklin  brought  with  him 
the  conviction  that  the  separation  from  Britain  was  inevitable. 
His  presence  Avithin  sight  of  his  native  town  was  welcomed 
with  affectionate  veneration.     "During  the  whole  cvenin<r » 
wrote  ({reene,  "  I  viewed  that  very  great  man  with  silent  ad- 
mu-ation."      AV^itli  Washington   for   the  military  chief,  with 
Franklm  for  the  leading  adviser  fi-om  congress,  the  confer- 
ence with  the  New  England  commissioners,  notwithstanding 
all  difficulties,  harmoniously  devised  a  scheme  for  formin^^ 
governing,  and  sn-pplying  a  new  army  of  about  twentj'-threo 
thousand  men,  whom  the  general  was  authorized  to  enlist  with- 
out delay,  yet  not  as  he  wished,  for  the  war,  but  only  for  the 
next  campaign.     The  proposed  arrangements,  in  all  their  de- 
tails, had  the  aspect  of  an  agreement  between  the  army,  the 
continental   congress,  and   the  New   England  colonies;  their 
Buccessful  execution  depended  on  those  four  colonies  alone. 


land, 


im 


AMEIUCA  AWAITS  THE   KING'S   DECISION. 


203 


After  til 


ifcr 


no  contcronco  Lroko  up  tlio  eoniniittco  rcMnalnod 
two  (iiiys,  t )  advise  with  the  {^^cnorul.  On  t\\U  vhnt  Franklin 
confirmed  the  Hteadfaat  allection,  coniidcnce,  and  veueratiou  of 
Washington. 

Franklin  waa  still  at  tlio  camp  when  news  from  Maine 
justilied  his  interpretation  of  the  iJtirposes  of  the  Uriti.sh.  In 
the  prevloua  Miiy,  Mowat,  a  naval  oflicer,  had  bo-en  held  pris- 
oner for  a  few  honrnat  Falm()nth,now  J'ortlund;  and  we  have 
Keen  Linzee,  in  a  sloop-of-v/ar,  driven  with  los.,  from  (ilonecs- 
ter ;  it  was  one  of  the  laiiL  acts  of  ( Jago  to  plan  with  the  admi- 
ral how  to  wreak  vengeance  on  the  inhabitants  of  botli  those 
ports.  The  design  against  (jloiicester  was  never  carried  out; 
but  ]\rowat,  in  a  Bhi[)  of  sixteen  guns,  attended  by  three  other 
vessels,  went  up  tiie  liarborof  J'ortland,  and,  after  a  short  parley, 
at  half-past  nine,  on  the  morning  of  tb-  sixteenth  of  (Jctober, 
began  to  lire  ni)on  the  town.  In  five  iiinntcs  several  houses 
were  in  a  blaze;  parties  of  marines  landed  to  spread  the  con- 
flagration. All  Kca-going  vessels  wvam  biii-nt  cxcejjt  two,  which 
M-ere  carried  away.  St.  Taurs  eluuxh,  tlio  public  buildings, 
and  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  dwelling-houses,  three  fourths 
of  the  whole,  were  burnt  down ;  those  that  remained  standing 
were  shattered  by  balls  and  sliells.  By  the  Engll.sh  account 
the  destruction  v.-as  still  greater.  ;\t  tlie  opening  of  a  severe 
winter,  the  inhabitants  were  turned  adrift  in  poverty  and  mis- 
cry.  The  indignation  of  Washington  Avas  kindled  at  these 
"  savage  cruelties,"  this  nev/  "  exertion  of  despotic  barbarity." 
"  Death  and  destruction  mark  the  footsteps  of  the  enemy,"  said 
Greene  ;  "  fight  or  bo  Blaves  is  the  American  motto."  Sullivan 
was  scut  to  fortify  Portsmouth ;  Trumbull  of  Connecticut  took 
thought  for  the  defence  of  New  London. 

On  the  third  of  October  one  of  the  delegates  of  Rhode 
Island  laid  before  congress  their  instructions  of  the  preceding 
August  to  use  their  v/holo  influence  for  building,  cc^uipping, 
and  employing  a  continental  fleet.  This  was  the  origin  of  our 
navy.  The  proposal  met  great  opposition ;  but  John  Adams 
pursued  it  unremittingly,  though  "  for  a  long  time  against  wind 
and  tide."  On  the  fifth,  Washington  was  anthori.-cd  to  cm- 
ploy  two  armed  vessels  to  intercept  British  store-ships  bound 
for  Quebec ;  on  the  thirteenth,  two  anned  vessels,  of  ten  and 


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264         AMEKICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,      ep.  m. ;  on.  xvi. 

Of  fourteen  guns,  were  voted,  and,  seventeen  days  later,  two 
others  of  tUu'ty-s.xguns.  But  much  time  would  pass  before 
their  equipment ;  as  yet  congress  established  no  court  for  -  the 
condemna,tion  of  vessels  taken  from  the  cncn.y,"  nor  was  war 
waged  on  the  high  sea,  nor  repi-isals  authorized,  nor  the  ports 
opened  to  foreign  nations  ^ 

On  the  sixteenth  the  new  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  was 
organized.  All  of  its  members  who  were  present  subscribed 
the  usual  engagement  of  allegiance  to  the  king.  In  a  few 
days  he  Quakers  presented  an  address,  deprecating  every i lung 
likely  to  widen  or  perpetuate  the  breach  with  their  parent 
state.  To  counteract  this  movement,  tlie  committee  for  the 
city  and  lib^'tics  of  Philadelphia,  sixty-six  in  number,  headed 
by  George  Clymer  and  Mackean,  went  two  by  two  to  the  state- 
house  and  delivered  their  remonstrance 

Congress,  for  the  time,  was  like  a  ship  at  sea  without  a 
rudder,  rolling  and  tossing  mth  every  wave.     One  day  would 
bring  measures  for  the  defence  of  New  York  and  Hudson 
nver   or  for  the  invasion  of  Canada;  the  next,  nothino-  was 
to  be  done  that  could  further  irritate  Great  Britain.     The  con 
tmuance  of  the  army  around  Boston  depended  on  uie  efficiency 
of  all  the  New  England  provinces;  New  Uampshire  remained 
without  a  government.     On  the  eighteenth  of  October  her 
delegates  asked,  m  her  behalf,  that  the  general  congress  would 
sanction  her  instituting  a  government,  as  the  only  means  of 
preventing  the  greatest  confusion ;  yet  the  majority  of  that 
body  let  Jie  month  run  out  before  giving  an  ansu-ei,  for  they 
still  dreamed  of  concihatioa  thi-ough  theii-  last  petition  to  the 
i^ing. 


ml  f 


1775.      FINAL  ANSWER  OF  THE  KING  TO  AMERICA. 


265 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

JTNAL   ANSWEK   OF   THE   KING   TO   AMERICA. 

Augtjst-Decembek  1775. 

The  Americans,  enterin^^  most  reluctantly  on  a  war  with 
Britain,  preserved  an  instinctive  feeling  that  the  relations  of 
affinity  were  suspended  rather  than  destroyed  ;  they  held  them- 
selves called  to  maintain  the  liberties  of  the  British  people,  as 
well  as  their  own  ;  and  never  looked  upon  the  transient  minis- 
ters who  were  their  oppressors  as  the  type  of  the  parent  coun- 
try.    The  moment  approaches  when  the  king  and  parliament 
irreversibly  rejected  their  last  petition;   to  understand  that 
decision,  it  is  necessary  to  state  precisely  the  question  at  issue. 
The  administration  of  numerous  colonies,  each  of  which  had 
a  representative  government  of  its  own,  was  conducted  with  in- 
convenience from  a  want  of  central  unity  ;  in  war,  experience 
showed  a  difficulty  in  obtaining  proportJonate  aid  from  them 
all ;  in  peace,  the  crown  officers  were  impatient  of  owing  their 
support  to  the  periodical  votes  of  colonial  legislatures.     To 
remedy  this  seeming  evil,  James  II.  consolidated  all  authority 
over  the   country  •  orth  of  the  Potomac,  and  undertook  to 
govern  it  by  his  ow  a  will. 

The  revolution  of  1G88  restored  to  the  colonies  their  rep- 
resentative  governments,  and  the  collision  between  the  crown 
officers  and  the  colonial  legislatures  was  renewed.  Threats  of 
parliamentary  intervention  were  sometimes  heard;  but  for 
nearly  three  quarters  of  a  century  no  minister  had  been  will- 
ing to  gratify  the  pertinacious  entreaties  of  placemen  by  dis- 
turbing America  in  the  enjoyment  of  her  liberties. 

Soon  after  the  accession  of  George  III.,  the  king,  averse  to 


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2GG        AMERICA  AP.MS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  ni. ;  en.  xrii. 

governing  so  many  prosperous  and  free  and  loyal  colonies  by 
consent,  resolved,  thror.gli  the  paramount  power  of  parliament, 
to  introduce  a  new  colonial  system,  which  Halifax,  Bedford,' 
and  especially  Charles  To\vnshcnd,  had  matured,  and  which 
was  to  have  Gufneicnt  vigor  to  control  the  unwilhiig.     First, 
the  charter  governments  wore  to  be  reduced  to  one  uniform, 
direct  dependence  on  the  king  by  the  abolition  of  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  proprietaries  in  M-'-yland  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
by  the  alteration  or  repeal  of  the  charters  of  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  and  Ehodo  Island.     Secondly,  for  the  pay  of  the 
crown  officers,  the  British  parliament  was  to  establish  in  each 
colony  a  permanent  civil  liot,  independent  of  the  assemblies,  so 
that  every  branch  of  the  judicial  and  executive  government 
should  bo  wholly  of  the  king's  appointment  and  dependent 
on  his  will.     Thirdly,  the  British  parliament  was,  by  its  own 
act^  of  ^  taxation,  to  levy  on  the  colonies  a  revenue  toward 
maintaining  their  military  establishment.     Townshend,  as  the 
head  of  the  board  of  trade,  was  unfolding  the  plan  in  the  house 
of  commons  just  before  Bute  retired. 

The  execution  of  the  design  fell  to  George  Grenville.  Now 
Grenvillo  conceived  himself  to  be  a  whig  of  the  straitest  sect, 
for  he  believed  implicitly  in  the  supremo  power  of  parlia- 
ment, lie  was  pleased  Vv^ith  the  thought  of  moulding  the 
whole  empire  into  closer  unity  by  means  of  parliamentary 
taxation;  but  his  regard  for  vested  rights  forbade  him  to 
consent  to  a  wilful  abrogation  of  charters.  The  Americans 
complained  to  him  that  a  civil  list  raised  by  the  British 
parliament  would  reduce  the  colonial  assemblies  to  a  nullity ; 
Grenville  saw  the  force  of  the  objection,  disclaimed  the  pur- 
pose, dropped  that  part  of  the  plan,  and  proposed  to  confine 
the  use  of  tlie  parliamentary  re\enne  to  the  expenses  of  the 
military  establishment.  The  colonists  again  interposed  with 
the  argument  that,  by  tlie  theory  of  the  British  constitution, 
taxation  and  consent  by  representation  are  inseparable  correla- 
tives ;  to  this  Grenville  listened,  and  answered  that  in  parlia- 
ment, as  the  common  council,  the  whole  empire  was  repre- 
sented collectively,  though  not  distributively  ;  but  that  as  in 
Britain  some  increase  of  the  number  of  voters  Avas  desirable, 
eo  taxation  of  the  colonies  ought  to  bo  followed  by  a  colonial 


i: .  ji 


im: 


and 


1775.      FIJiAL  ANSWER  OF  THE  KING  TO  AMERICA.       2G7 

representation ;  and,  with  this  theory  of  constitutional  law,  he 
passed  the  stamp  act. 

When  a  difference  at  court  drove  Grcnville  from  office,  his 
theory  lost  its  importance,  for  no  party  in  England  or  America 
undertook  its  support.     The  new  ministers  by  whom  his  colo- 
nial policy  was  to  be  changed  had  the  option  between  repeal- 
ing the  tax  as  an  unwarranted  exercise  of  power  by  parliament, 
or  as  an  unwise  exercise  of  a  power  of  which  the  rightful  pos- 
session could  not  admit  of  dispute.    The  first  was  the  choice  of 
Pitt,  and  its  adoption  would  have  ended  the  controversy ;  the 
second  was  that  of  Rockingham.    He  abolished  the  tax  and'  sent 
over  assurances  of  his  friendship ;  but  his  declaratory  aci  as- 
sumed to  establish  as  the  law  of  the  empire  that  the  legislative 
power  of  the  parliament  of  Britain  reached  to  the  colonies  in 
all  cases  whatsoever.     In  1688,  the  assertion  of  the  paramount 
power  of  parliament  against  a  king  who  would  have  seques- 
tered all  legislative  liberty  was  a  principle  of  freedom;  but,  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  the  assertion  of  the  absolute  po\ver  of  a 
parliament  acting  in  concert  with  the  king  was  to  frame  an 
instrument  of  tyranny.     The  colonies  denied  the  unqualified 
authority  of  a  legislature  in  which  they  were  not  represented ; 
and,  when  they  were  told  that  they  were  as  much  represented 
as  nine  tenths  of  the  people  of  Britain,  the  British  people,  en- 
lightened by  the  discussion,  from  that  day  complained  unceas- 
ingly of  the  inadequateness  of  a  parliament  in  whose  election 
nine  tenths  of  them  had  no  voice  whatever. 

More  than  a  generation  passed  away  before  the  reform  of 
the  British  House  of  Commons  began ; .  the  issue  was  precipi- 
tated upon  America.  In  the  very  next  year  Charies  Townshend, 
resuming  the  system  v/hich  he  had  prepared  in  the  administra- 
tion of  Bute,  proposed  a  tax  by  the  British  parliament  to  be 
collected  in  America  on  tea,  glass,  paper,  and  painters'  colors ; 
and  introduced  the  tax  by  a  preamble,  asserting  that  "it  is 
expedient  that  a  revenue  should  be  raised  in  his  majesty's  do- 
minions in  America  for  defraying  the  chiirge  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  and  support  of  civil  government,  and  toward 
further  defraying  the  expenses  of  defending  the  said  domin- 
ions." Grenvillo  had  proposed  taxes  by  pariiament  solely  for 
vhe  military  defence  of  the  colonies;  Townshend's  preamble 


II 


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268        AMERICA   ARMS  FOR  Srvf-DEFENCE.    ep.  m. ;  cn.  xvii. 

further  promised  an  ever-increasing  American  civil  list,  inde- 
pendent of  American  assemblies,  to  be  disposed  of  by  ministers 
at  their  discretion  for  salaries,  gifts,  or  pensions.  Here  lay  the 
seeds  of  a  grievance  indefinite  in  its  extent,  taking  from  the 
colonies  all  control  over  pubHc  officers  and  expenses,  and  in- 
troducing a  government  by  the  absolute  power  of  the  British 
pariiament,  liable  to  be  administered  in  the  interest  of  Britain 
and  its  agents,  without  regard  to  the  rights  and  liberties  and 
industries  and  welfare  of  the  people. 

Just  as  Townshend  had  intrenched  the  system  in  tlte  stat- 
ute-book he  di(..^  and  left  behind  him  no  able  statesman  for 
Its  steadfast  upholder;  while  the  colonies  were  unanimous  in 
resistmg  the  mnovation,  and  avoided  the  taxes  by  stopping  im- 
ports of  the  ari:leles  which  were  taxed.     The  government  gave 
way,  and  repealed  all  Townshend's  taxes  except  on  tea      Of 
that  duty  Lord  North  maintained  that  it  »vas  but  a  reduction 
of  the  ancient  duty  of  a  shilling  a  pound  payable  in  England, 
to  one  of  threepence  only  payable  in  America ;  and  that  the 
change  of    lie  place  where  the  duty  was  to  be  collected  was 
nothing  more  than  a  regulation  of  trade  to  prevent  smuggling 
tea  from  Holland.     The  statement,  so  far  as  the  amount  of 
the  tax  was  concerned,  was  true  ;  but  the  sting  of  the  tax  act 
lay  m  its  preamble  :  Rockingham's  declaratory  act  affirmed  the 
power  of  pariiament  in  all  cases  whatsoever  ;  Townshend's  pre- 
amble  declared  the  expediency  of  using  that  power  to  raise  a 
large  colonial  revenue.     Still  colUsion  was  averted  ;  for  the 
Americans,  in  their  desire  for  peace,  gave  up  the  importation 
of  tea,  and  no  regular  British  trader  found  it  prudent  to  brave 
their  "-ill. 

A  this,  the  king,  against  the  opinion  of  Lord  North  and 
of  the  East  India  company,  directed  that  company  itself  to 
export  Its  tea  to  America,  and  to  pay  in  American  ports  the 
duty  imposed  by  parliament;  hoping  that  the  low  price  at 
which  the  tea  under  the  greatly  diminished  duty  could  be  of- 
fered for  sale  would  tempt  Americans  to  buy.  But  the  colo- 
nists would  not  suffer  the  tea  to  be  exposed  for  sale  •  the 
crown  officers  yielded  to  their  resistance  everywhere  exce'pt  at 
Boston,  and  there  the  tea  was  thrown  overboard. 

The  king  and  the  Bedford  party  seized  the  occasion  to 


m 


1*^,11 


1775,      FINAL  ANSWER  OF  THE  KING  TO  AMERICA. 


269 


change  by  act  of  parliament  the  charter  granted  by  "William 
and  Mary  to  Massachusetts.  The  change  could  bring  no  advan- 
tage to  Britain,  and  really  had  nothing  to  recommend  it ;  to  the 
people  of  Massachusettp  and  to  the  people  of  all  the  colonies, 
i5ubmission  to  the  change  would  have  been  an  acknowledgment 
of  the  absolute  power  of  parliament  over  American  liberty 
as  well  as  property.  The  people  of  Macsachucetts  resisted ;  the 
king  answered:  "Blows  must  decide,"  A  congrecs  of  the 
colonies  approved  the  conduct  of  Massaehusetts ;  parliament 
pledged  itself  to  support  the  king.  In  1773,  a  truce  was  pos- 
sible; after  the  alteration  of  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  in 
1774  by  act  of  parliament,  America  would  have  been  pacified 
by  a  simple  repeal  of  the  acts  -which  were  innovations  ;  in  1775, 
after  blood  had  been  shed  at  Lexington,  security  for  the  future 
was  demanded. 

British  statesmen  of  all  schools  but  Chatham's  affirmed  the 
power  of  parliament  to  tax  Amciiea ;  America  denied  that  it 
could  be  rightfully  taxed  by  a  body  in  which  it  was  not  rep- 
r2sented,  for  rightful  taxation  and  consent  were  inceparable. 
British  poUticians  rejoined  that  taxation  was  but  an  act  of 
legislation ;  that,  therefore,  to  deny  to  parliament  the  right  of 
taxation  was  to  deny  to  parliament  all  right  of  legislation  for 
the  colonies,  even  to  regulate  trade.  To  this  America  made  an- 
swer that,  in  reason  and  truth,  representation  and  legislation  are 
inseparable ;  that  the  colonies,  l)eing  entitled  to  Englioh  free- 
dom, were  not  bound  by  any  act  of  a  body  to  which  they  did 
not  send  members ;  but,  as  they  desired  to  avoid  a  conflict, 
they  proposed  as  a  fundamental  act  their  voluntaiy  submission 
to  every  parliamentary  diminution  of  their  liberty  vv^hich  existed 
in  17G3  including  the  navigation  acts  and  taxes  for  regulating 
trade,  on  condition  of  relief  from  the  new  syctem  of  adminis- 
tration and  of  security  against  future  attempts  for  its  introduc- 
tion. Richard  Penn  was  the  agent  of  congreoa  to  bear  to  the 
king  its  petition  for  his  concurrence  in  its  endeavor  to  restore 
peace  and  union. 

Four  days  after  the  petition  to  the  king  had  been  adopted 
by  congress,  Richard  Penn  sailed  from  Philadelphia  on  his  mis- 
sion. He  arrived  in  Bristol  on  the  thirteenth  of  August,  and 
was  the  next  day  in  London.     Joint  proprietary  of  Pennsylva, 


^    i 


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270        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  m. ;  en.  xvii. 

nia,  of  whicli  lie  for  a  time  was  governor,  long  a  resident  in 
America,  intimately  acquainted  with  many  of  its  leading  states- 
men, the  chosen  suppliant  from  its  united  "delegates,  an  English- 
man of  a  loyalty  above  impeachment  or  suspicion,  he  singularly 
merited  the  eoniidcnce  of  the  government.    But  not  one  of  the 
ministers  waited  on  him,  or  sent  for  him,  or  even  asked  him 
through  subordinates,  one  single  question  about  the  state  of  the 
colonies.     He  could  not  obtain  an  opportunity  of  submittino-  a 
copy  of  the  petition  to  Lord  Dartraoi7th  till  the  twenty-first 
The  king  would  not  see  him.     "The  king  and  his  cabinet,'' 
said  Suitolk,  "are  determined  to  listen  to  nothing  from  the 
Illegal  congress,  to  treat  with  the  colonies  only  one  by  one  and 
ni  no  event  to  recognise  them  in  any  form  of  association  "' 

"The  Americans,"  reasoned   Sandwich,  "will  soon  grow 
weary,  and  Great  Britain  will  subject   them   by  her  amis" 
"Lord  North,"  wrote  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  "  is  as  fat  and  lazy  Is 
ever.       He  was  a  skilful  manager  of  a  corrupt  house  of  com- 
mons, but  was  unfit  for  the  direction  of  great  aifairs.    The  king 
"showed  his  determination,"  such  were  his  own  M-ords    "to 
force  the  deluded  Americans  into  submission."     He  chid  Lord 
North  for  "  the  delay  in  framing  a  proclamation,  declariuff 
them  rebels  and  forbidding  all  intercourse  with  them  "     On 
the  twenty-third  of  August,  two  days  after  Penn  had  delivered 
a  copy  of  the  petition  of  congress,  he  sent  out  a  proclamation 
setting  forth  that  many  of  his  subjects  in  the  colonies  had  pro- 
ceeded to  an  avowed  rebellion  by  arraying  themselves  to  with- 
stand the  execution  of  the  law,  and  traitorously  levyino-  war 
against  him.     "  There  is  reason,"  so  ran  its  words,  "  to  appre- 
hend that  such  rebellion  hath  been  much  encouraged  by  the 
traitorous  correspondence,    counsels,    and   comfort  of  divers 
wicked  and  de3p3rate  persons  within  our  realm;"  and  meas- 
ures were  announced  "to  bring  to  condign  punishment  the 
authors     m  America,  "and  abettors"  in  England,  "of  such 
traitorous  designs." 

This  irrevocable  proclamation  having  been  made,  Penn  and 
Arthur  Lee  were  "permitted"  on  the  first  of  September  to 
present  the  original  of  the  American  petition  to  Lord  Dart- 
mouth who  promised  to  deliver  it  to  the  king;  but,  on  their 
pressing  for  an  answer,  "they  were  informed  that  no  answer 


"to 


1773.      FINAL  ANSWER  0I<    THE  KING  TO  AMERICA.       271 

would  be  given."  Lee  expressed  sorrow  at  the  refusal,  because 
it  would  occasion  much  bloodshed  ;  and  the  secretary  answered : 
"  If  I  thought  the  refusal  would  be  the  cause  of  shedding  one 
drop  of  blood,  I  should  never  have  concurred  in  it." 

^  The  proclamation,  when  read  at  the  royal  exchange,  was  re- 
ceived with  a  general  hiss. 

Just  after  I'enn's  arrival  the  aml)assador  of  France  re- 
ported :  "  These  people  appear  to  me  in  a  delirium  ;  that  there 
can  be  no  conciliation  we  have  now  the  certainty.  Rochf  ord 
even  assures  me  once  more,  that  it  is  determined  to  burn  the 
town  of  Boston,  and  in  the  coming  spring  to  transfer  the  seat 
of  operations  to  New  York." 

Vergennes  could  not  persuade  himself  that  the  British  gov- 
ernment should  refuse  conciliation,  when  nothing  Avas  asked 
for  but  tue  revocation  of  acts  posterior  to  1763 ;  and  in  his  in- 
credulity he  demanded  of  the  ambassador  a  revision  of  his 
opinion.  "I  persist,"  answered  De  Guincs,  "in  thinking  ne- 
gotiations impossible.  The  parties  diifer  on  the  form  and  on 
the  substance  as  widely  as  white  and  black.  An  English  min- 
istry in  a  case  like  this  can  yield  nothing,  for,  accordhig  to  the 
custom  of  the  country,  it  must  follow  out  its  plan  or  resign. 
The  only  sensible  course  would  be  to  cliange  the  administration. 
The  king  of  England  is  as  obstinate  and  as  feeble  as  Charles  I., 
and  every  day  he  makes  his  task  more  difficult  and  more  dan- 
gerous." Yergennes  gave  up  his  doubts,  saying  :  "  The  king's 
proclamation  cuts  off  the  possibihty  of  retreat;  America  or 
the  ministers  must  succumb." 

In  a  few  weeks  the  proclamation  reached  the  colonies  at 
several  port3.  Men  said:  "A\niile  America  is  still  on  her 
knees,  the  king  aims  a  dagger  at  her  heart."  Abigail  Smith, 
the  wife  of  John  Adams,  was  at  the  time  in  their  ^  home  near 
the  foot  of  Penn  Hill,  charged  with  the  sole  care  of  tlieir 
brood  of  children ;  managing  their  farm  ;  keeping  house  with 
frugality,  though  opening  her  doors  to  the  houseless  and  giv- 
mg  with  good-will  a  part  of  her  scant  portion  to  the  poor ; 
seeking  work  for  her  own  hands,  and  ever  occupied,  now  at 
the  spinning-wheel,  now  making  amends  for  having  never  been 
sent  to  school  by  learning  Frcncli,  though  with  the  aid  of 
books  alone.     Since  the  departure  of  her  husband  for  congress, 


■  I 


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ill 


272         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  iii. ;  en.  xtii. 

the  arrow  of  death  had  sped  near  her  by  day,  and  the  pesti- 
lence that  walks  in  darkness  had  entered  her  humblo  man- 
sion ;  she  was  still  weak  after  a  violent  ilhics^ ;  her  house  was 
a  hospital  in  every  part;  and,  such  was  the  distress  of  the 
neighborhood,  oho  could  hardly  find  a  well  p-rson  to  assist  in 
looking  after  the  sick.    Ilcr  youngest  eon  had  been  rescued 
from  the  grave  by  her  nursing ;  her  own  mother  had  been 
taken  away,  and,  after  the  austere  manner  of  her  forefathers, 
buried  without  prayer.     Woo  followed  woo,  and  one  affliction 
trod  on  the  heels  of  another.     Winter  was  hurrying  on ;  dur- 
ing the  day  family  alTuirs  took  off  her  attention,  but  her  long 
evenings,  broken  by  the  sound  of  the  storm  on  the  ocean  or 
the  enemy's  artillery  at  Boston,  were  lonesome  and  melancholy. 
But  when,  in  November,  she  read  the  king's  proclamation,  she 
willingly  gave  up  her  '-nearest  friend"  to  his  perilous  duties, 
and  sent  him  her  cheering  message :  ''  This  intelligence  will 
make  a  plain  path  for  you,  though  a  dangerous  on^;  I  could 
not  join  to-day  in  the  petitions  of  our  worthy  pastor  for  a 
reconciliation  between  our  no  longer  parent  state,  but  tyrant 
state,  and  these  colonies.    Let  us  soparato ;  they  are  unworthy 
to  be  our  brethren.     Let  us  renounce  them ;  and,  instead  of 
supplications,  as  fonnerly,  for  tliciv  prosperity  and  happiness, 
let  us  beseech  the  Almighty  to  blact  their  counsel?,  and  bring 
to  nought  all  tlieir  devices."    Her  voice  was  the  voice  of  New 
England. 

Ilawley  discerned  the  coming  government  of  the  republic, 
even  whiie  it  still  lay  fa-  below  the  horizon ;  and  ho  wrote 
from  Watertown  to  Samuel  Adams :  "  The  eyes  of  all  the  con- 
tinent^ are  fastened  on  your  body  to  see  whether  you  act  with 
the  spirit  and  despatch  which  our  situation  calls  for ;  it  is  time 
for  your  body  to  fix  on  periodical  annual  elections,  nay,  to 
form  into  a  parliament  of  two  houses." 

The  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  without  waiting  for  further 
authority,  in  an  act  drawn  by  Elbridgc  Gerry,  instituted  courts 
for  the  condemnation  of  prizes  taken  from  the  British. 

The  first  day  of  November  brought  the  king's  proclamation 
to  the  general  congress.  The  majority  saw  that  the  last  hope 
of  conciliation  was  gone ;  and,  while  they  waited  for  instruc- 
tions from  their  several  constituencies  before  declaring  inde- 


it      :       ■•< 


1775.      FINAL  ANSWER  OF  THE  KING  TO  AMKHK.'A.       273 

pendence,  they  acted  upon  the  petitions  of  the  colonies  that 
^vlshed  to  institute  governments  of  tlieir  own.  On  the  second 
in  committee,  on  tl»e  third  in  the  house,  it  was  "  recojn mended 
to  the  provincial  c(mvention  of  New  Hampshire  to  call  a  full 
and  free  reproMantation  of  the  people,  and,  if  they  think  it 
necessary,  establish  a  sovemment."  On  the  fourth,  the  same 
advice  was  extended  to  South  Carohna.  Here  was  the  day- 
break of  revolution. 

The  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  continued  to  require  its 
members  to  sul)scribo  the  old  qualiHcation  appointed  .jy  law 
which  inclndod  the  promise  of  allegiance  to  George  III  •  so 
that  Franklin,  who  was  elected  for  Philadelphia  through 'the 
Insh  and  the  Presbyterians,  could  never  take  his  seat.     Dick- 
mson  had  been  returned  for  the  county  by  the  concurring  vote 
of  patriots  who  confided  in  his  integrity,  of  loyalists  who  looked 
upon  him  as  their  last  hope,  of  Quakers  who  trusted  his  regard 
for  peace,  of  the  proprietary  party  whose  cause  he  always  vin- 
dicated.    The  assembly,  on  the  fourth,  elected  nine  delegates 
to  the  contmcntal  congress.     Then,  on  the  ninth,  Dickinson, 
with  the  king's  Into  proclamation  before  him,  reported  and  car- 
ried  this  instruction  to  the  Pennsylvania  delegates :  «  Though 
the  oppressive  measures  of  the  British  parliament  and  adminis- 
tration have  compelled  us  to  resist  their  violence  by  force  of 
arms,  yet  we  strictly  enjoin  you,  that  you,  in  behalf  of  this  col- 
ony, dissent  from  and  utterly  reject  any  propositions,  should 
such  be  -made,  that  may  cause  or  lead  to  a  separation  from  our 
mother  country,  or  a  change  of  the  fom.  .  ovemment." 

Nevertheless,  the  assembly  approved  the  Nation  of 

all  who  had  no  scruples  about  bearing  ai  les  for 

volunteer  battalions,  and  appropriated  eig.  lounds 

in  provincial  pap3r  money  to  defray  the  expt.  iHtary 

pi-eparation.  The  assembly  sat  with  closed  doors,  and  would 
not  allow  the  names  of  the  voters  on  the  division  to  be  re- 
corded ir\  their  journal. 

^  Delaware  was  swayed  by  the  example  of  its  more  powerful 
neighbor;  the  party  of  the  projrietary  in  Maryland  took  cour- 
age ;  in  a  few  Areeks  the  assembly  of  New  Jersey  restrained 
Its  delegates  in  con-reos  by  an  equally  stringent  declaration. 
The  majority  in  the  continental  congress  were  ready  for  in- 

VOL.    IV.— 18 


I 


HI  il 


M^ 


Iti 


r 


I  i' 


,     ■  >    i 

1     ^^^^M 

^itfjil 

.     l:'i 

1 

27*         AMERICA  AUMS  FOIi  SELF-DEFKXCE.     Er.  in.;  cn.xvii. 


dependence;  but  acquiesced  in  waiting  for  unanimity  in  its 
adoption.  Tliey  became  more  resolute,  uioro  tiioruu^h,  and 
more  active;  tbey  recalled  their  absent  members;  they  wel- 
corned  trophies  of  victory  from  (Amada.  Witiiout  as  yet  open- 
ing the  commerce  of  the  continent  by  a  general  act,  they  cm- 
powerid  a  committee  to  export  provisions  or  produce  to  the 
foreign  West  Indies  at  the  nsk  of  the  continent,  in  order  to 
purchase  tlie  materials  of  war.  In  November  they  adopted 
"  rules  f(jr  the  govermnent  of  the  American  navy,"  directed 
the  enlistment  of  two  battalions  of  marines,  authorized  the 
seizure  of  all  ships  employed  as  carriers  for  the  British  fleet 
or  army,  and  sanctioned  tribunals  instituted  in  the  separate 
colonies  to  contiscato  their  cargoes.  The  captures  made  under 
the  authority  of  Washington  they  conlirmed.  To  meet  the 
further  expenses  of  the  war,  they  voted  bills  of  credit  for  three 
millions  more. 

"  It  is  an  immense  misfortune  to  the  whole  empire,"  wi'ote 
Jefferson  to  a  refugee  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  November,  "  to 
have  a  king  of  such  a  dispositior  at  such  a  time.  We  are  told, 
and  everything  j>roves  it  true,  that  he  is  the  bitterest  enemy 
we  have  ;  his  minister  is  able,  and  that  satisfies  me  that  igno- 
rance or  wickedness  somewhere  controls  him.  Our  petitions 
told  him  that  from  our  king  there  was  but  one  appeal.  The 
admonition  was  despised,  and  that  appeal  forced  on  us.  After 
colonies  have  drawn  the  sword,  there  is  but  one  step  more  they 
can  take.  That  step  is  now  ])rc!^sed  upon  us  by  the  measures 
adopted,  as  if  they  were  afraid  we  would  not  take  it.  There 
is  not  in  the  British  empire  a  man  who  more  cordially  loves  a 
union  with  Great  Britain  than  I  do ;  but,  by  the  God  that 
made  me,  I  will  cease  to  exist  before  I  yield  to  a  connection 
on  such  terms  as  the  Bri  xsh  parliament  propose;  and  in  this  I 
speak  the  sentiments  of  America." 

"  I  know  what  my  duty  to  my  country  makes  me  under- 
take, and  threats  can  not  prevent  me  from  doing  that  to  the 
utmost  extent,"  said  George  III.  The  parties  of  Rocking- 
ham and  Chatham  were  defied  as  the  accomplices  of  rebels; 
it  was  the  fixed  plan  of  the  king  and  ministers  to  lay  America 
waste  if  she  could  n  '  be  reduce;!.*    Britain  and  Ireland  could 

*  Do  Giiines,  11  and  25  August  1773.     MS. 


Im 


m 


1775.     THE  KING'S  ANSWER.     HE  APPEALS  TO  RUSSIA.     275 

spare  few  troops  to  execute  tlicse  dr  ^igns;  but  the  B:-iti.sli  kii.-. 
Berui)led  vh  little  as  liis^  iniuiHters  tu  engage  foreign  hirelit  ^ 
wherever  they  chanced  to  be  in  the  niaricet;  and  had  ii:  coii- 
tenipaition  a  scheme  of  stupendous  grandeur  for  obtainir<r  a 
subsidiary  army  b.y  negotiations  at  Moscow  with  the  sovereN-n 
who  chiimed  to  hold  tlie  sceptre  of  Constuntinc.  ^ 

From  the  moment  when  the  Empress  Catharine  II    as  -i 
young  bride,  set  her  foot  on  Rusoian  soil,  it  became  her 'fixed 
I)iirpose  to  fiei;ce  on  absolute  power  and  govern  alone.    Though 
she  mixed  trilling  pastimes  with  application  to  business,  and 
for  her  recreation  sought  the  company  of  the  young  and  the 
gay,  she  1    •  excelled  those  around  her  in  industry  and  knowl- 
edge.     Frederic  said  of  her,  that  she  had  an  inhnity  of  talent 
and  no  religion ;  yet,  after  going  over  to  the  Greek  church, 
she  played  the  devotee.     There  wob  in  her  nature  a  mixture 
of   fancy   and    enlculation.     Distinguished    for   vivacity   of 
thought  and  for  liie  most  laborious  attention  to  affairs,  capable 
ot  prompt  energy  and  of  patient  waiting,  very  prop  <  oi   the 
greatness  and  power  of  her  empire,  her  intercourse  wl      all  her 
subjects  was  marked  by  mildness  and  grace;  and  she  made 
almost  incredible  exertions  as  a  monarch  to  be  useful  even 
to  the  meanest,  to  benefit  the  future  as  well  as  the  present 
age.     She  had  known  sorrow,  a;  1  could  feel  for  and  relieve 
distress.     She  translated  JMarmontcl's  Belisarius  into  Russian 
us  a  lesson  of  toleration,  relieved  the  poverty  of  Diderot  by  a 
lasting   provision,  and  invited   Alembert  to  superintend  the 
education  of  her  son,  who  was  to  be  her  succasoor.     One  day 
she  proposed  to  the  imperial  academy  the  quest-jn  of   the 
emancipation  of  serfs  ;  and  she  suffered  the  printing  of  a  dis- 
sortation  liaving  for  it3  motto,  "  In  favorcm  libortatis  omnia 
jura  clamant,"  "  All  right  clamors  fcr  freedom."     Tragedv, 
comedy,  music,  wearied  her;  she  had  no  taste  but  to  bui!d,or 
to  regulate  her  court ;  no  ambition  but  to  rule  and  to  make  a 
great  name.     In  the  crowd  of  courtiers,  wlio  were  all  e-ger 
for  advancement,  slie  compared  licrself  to  a  hare  worried  by 
many  hounds ;  and  among  an  unscrupulous  nobility,  in  a  land 
which  was  not  that  of  her  birth,  she  was  haunted  hy  a  feel- 
ing of  insecurity  and  an  unrest  of  soul.     But  those  around 
her  were  not  offended  at  the  coi-pletcncGs  with  which  she 


!  ' 


1  '  i 


i-tiilli 


0i 


!       I 


276        AMERICA  A'/.MS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  HI. :  CII.  XVII. 


:  1       •! 

f 

i 

,      .'l 

i    1    ,    " 

\ 

i 

1 

i 

belonged  to  a  century  representing  tlio  supremacy  of  the 
senses. 

Her  first  minister  was  Panin,  and  he  was  acknowledged  to 
be  the  fittest  man  for  the  post,  without  whom  no  council  was 
held,  no  decision  taken  in  foreign  or  domestic  affairs.  He 
was  more  persistent  than  bold,  and  was  guided  by  experience 
rather  than  comprehensive  views.  Ue  had  the  faults  of  pride, 
infiexibility,  and  dilatoriness ;  but  he  was  unapproachable  by 
corruption.  At  homo,  his  political  principles  led  him  to  desire 
some  limitation  of  the  power  of  the  sovereign  by  a  council  of 
nobles  ;  toward  foreign  states  he  was  free  from  rancor.  It  had 
been  the  policy  of  France  to  save  Poland  by  stirring  up  Swe- 
den and  Turkey  against  Russia  ;  yet  Panin  did  not  misjudge 
the  relations  of  Eussia  to  France.  With  England  he  wanted 
no  treaty  except  with  stipulations  for  aid  in  the  contingency  of 
a  war  of  Russia  with  the  Ottoman  Porte,  and,  as  that  condition 
could  not  be  obtained,  he  always  declined  her  alliance. 

One  day  Panin  happened  to  inquire  of  the  British  minister 
the  news  from  America.    Gunning  seized  the  moment  to  an- 
swer that  the  measures  in  progress  would  shortly  end  the  re- 
bellion;  then,  as  if  hurried  by  excess  of  zeal  to  utter  an  un- 
authorized speculation  of  his  own,  he  asked  leave  to  acquaint 
his  king  that,  "  in  case  the  circumstances  of  affairs  should  ren- 
der any  foreign  forces  necessary,  ho  might  reckon  upon  a  body 
of  her  imperial  majesty's  infantry."     It  was  the  interest  and 
policy  of  Russia  to  preserve  the  favor  of  the  British  king  and 
his  ministry.    The  answer  of  the  empress,  which  Panin,  on  the 
morning  of  the  eighth   of  Au;  ast,   reported   to  the  British 
minister,  carefully  avoided  mention  of  the  request  for  subsidi- 
ary troops,  but  expressed  gratitude  for  favors  received  from 
England  during  her  last  war,  and  she  charged  Panin  to  repeat 
her  very  words,  that  "  she  found  in  herself  an  innate  affection 
for  the  British  nation  which  she  should  always  cherish."     The 
envoy  interj^reted  a  woman's  discreet  reticence  and  lavish  sen- 
timentality as  a  promise  of  twenty  thousand  infantry. 

Gunning's  despatch  from  Moscow  was  received  in  Tojidon 
on  the  first  day  of  September,  with  elation.  That  very  day 
Suffolk  prepared  the  answer  to  the  minister.  To  Catharine, 
George  himself  with  his  own  hand  >vrote  :  '-'  I  accept  the  sue- 


1775.    THE  KING'S  ANSWER.    HE  APPEALS  TO  RUSSIA.     277 

cor  that  your  majesty  offers  me  of  a  part  of  your  troops,  wliom 
the  acts  of  rebellion  of  my  subjects  in  some  of  my  colonies  in 
America  unhappily  require  ;  I  shall  provide  my  minister  with 
the  necessary  full  powers  ;  nothing  shall  ever  efface  from  mv 
memory  the  offer  your  imperial  majesty  has  made  to  me  on 
this  occasion."     Gunning  was  ordered  to  ask  for  twenty  thou- 
sand disciplined  men,  completely  equipped  and  prepared  on 
the  opening  of  the  Baltic  in  spring  to  embark  by  way  of  Eng- 
land for  Canada,  where  they  were  to  serve  under  the  British 
general.    The  journey  from  London  to  Moscow  required  al)out 
twenty-three  days ;  yet  they  all  were  confident  of  receivino-  I'le 
definitive  promise  by  the  twenty-third  of  October,  in  season  to 
announce  it  at  the  opening  of  parliament ;   and  Lord  Dart- 
mouth hurried  off  messages  to  Howe  and  to  Carleton,  that  the 
empress  of  Russia  had  given  the  most  ample  assurances  of  let- 
ting them  have  any  number  of  infantry  that  luig]  '  oe  wanted 
On  the  eighth,  Suffolk  despatched  a  second  courier  to  Oun- 
nmg,  with  a  project  of  a  treaty  for  two  years,  within  which  the 
king  and  his  ministers  were  confident  of  crushing  the  insur- 
rection.    The  levy  money  might  be  seven  pounds  sterling  a 
man  payable  one  half  in  advance,  the  other  on  embarkation 
A  subsidy  was  not  to  be  refused.     « I  will  not  conceal  from 
you,    wrote  Suffolk  to  Gunning,  "that,  this  accession  of  force 
bemg  very  earnestly  desired,  expense  is  not  so  much  an  object 
as  in  ordinary  cases."     Gigantic  bribery  was  authorized. 

On  the  tenth,  Gunning  poured  out  to  the  empress  assiir- 
ances  of  the  most  inviolable  attachment  of  England  "Has 
any  progress  been  made,"  she  asked,  with  the  utmost  cool- 
ness, "toward  settling  your  dispute  in  America?"  and,  with- 
out waiting  for  an  answer,  she  added:  '^For  (Jod's  sake,  put 
an  end  to  it  as  soon  as  possible,  and  do  not  confine  yourselves 
to  one  method  of  accomplishing  this  desirable  end  ;  there  are 
other  means  of  doing  it  than  force  of  arms,  and  they  ought 
ail  to  oe  tried.  You  know  ray  situation  has  lately  been  full 
as^  embarrassing,  and,  believe  me,  I  did  not  rest  my  certainty 
ot  success  upon  one  mode  of  acting.  There  are  moments  when 
we  must  not  be  too  rigorous.  The  interest  I  take  in  every- 
thmg  that  concerns  -  '  ... 

subject." 


Hi  •  i 
f!.  •  1 
'!    ■     .  ! 


I!! 

|!  '■".  i 


III 


•|j|'!i 


J^iMl! 


you  makes  me  speak  thus  freely  upon  thi.^ 


278        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  m. ;  cii.  xvii. 

Gunning,  wlio  found  Liraself  most  unexpectedly  put  upon 
the  defensive,  answered :  "  Resentment  has  not  yet  found  ita 
way  into  his  majesty's  councils."  But  Catharine  repeated  her 
wishes  for  a  speedy  and  a  peaceful  end  to  the  diuorence,  citing 
her  own  example  of  lenity  and  concession  as  the  best  mode  of 
suppressing  a  rebellion. 

Late  on  the  twenty-fourth  the  first  courier  of  Lord  Suffollc 
reached  Moscow  a  few  hours  after  Catharine's  departure  for 
some  days  of  religious  seclusion  in  the  moniwtcry  at  Yoskre- 
sensk.  As  no  time  was  to  be  lost.  Gunning  hastened  to  Panin, 
who  received  him  cordially,  and  consented  to  forward  to  the 
empress  in  her  retirement  a  copy  of  the  king's  letter.  He 
next  repaired  to  the  vice-chancellor,  O.stcrmann,  who  calmly 
explained  to  him  the  impossibility  of  conceding  the  renuest 
for  troops. 

The  empress  having,  on  the  thirtieth,  returned  to  Moscow, 
Gunning  waited  on  Panin  by  appointment.  The  autograph 
letter,  which  he  wished  to  deliver  to  her  in  person,  oaid  posi- 
tively that  she  had  made  him  an  offer  of  troops;  Panin  insisted 
on  an  acknowledgment  that  no  such  offer  had  been  made,  and, 
after  much  exijostulation,  Gunning  confessed :  "  It  is  true ;  in 
your  answer  to  me,  no  explicit  mention  was  made  of  troops." 
Panin  then  gave  the  message  of  the  empress,  that  she  was 
affected  by  the  cordiality  of  the  king,  that  in  return  her  friend- 
ship was  equally  warm,  but  that  she  had  much  rcpugmmee  to 
the  employment  of  her  troops  in  America.  "  And  could  not 
his  majesty,"  asked  Panin,  "make  use  of  Hanoverians?" 

Gunning,  in  reply,  spoke  at  great  lengtJi  on  the  gratitude 
due  from  the  empress  to  the  British  king,  and  desired  Panin 
to  deliver  to  her  the  autograph  letter  of  George  IH. 

The  next  morning,  before  Panin  was  up,  Gimning  hurried 
to  him,  and,  to  remove  objections,  offered  to  be  content  Avith  a 
corps  of  fifteen  thousand  men.  It  was  the  grand  dulse's  birth- 
day ;  he  repaired  to  court  to  see  the  empress,  but  she  did  not 
appear.  He  returned  to  the  palace  in  the  evening;  Init  the  em- 
press, feigning  indisposition,  excusnd  liorself  from  seeing  him. 
Meantime,  the  proposal  was  debated  in  council ;  and  objec- 
tions without  end  rose  up  against  the  trafllc  in  troops.  Besides, 
a  naked  demand  of  twenty  thousand  men  to  servo  in  America 


1775.    THE  KIXG'S  ANSWER.    HE  APPEALS  TO  RUSSIA.     279 

• 

under  British  command  as  mercenaries,  witli  no  liberty  left  to 
herself  but  to  fix  the  price  of  her  subjects  in  money,  and  bo 
plunge  her  hand  as  deeply  as  she  pleased  into  the  British  ex- 
chequer, was  an  insult  to  her  honor.  She  framed,  accordingly, 
a  sarcastic  and  unequivocal  answer  :  "  I  am  just  beginning  to 
enjoy  peace,  and  your  majesty  knows  that  my  empire  has  need 
of  repose.  There  is  an  impropriety  in  employing  so  consid- 
erable a  body  in  another  hemisphere,  under  a  power  almost 
unknown  to  it,  and  almost  removed  from  all  correspondence 
with  its  sovereign.  Moreover,  I  should  not  be  able  to  prevent 
myself  from  reflecting  on  the  consequences  which  would  result 
for  our  dignity,  for  that  of  the  two  monarchies  and  the  tvro 
nations,  from  this  junction  of  our  forces,  simply  to  calm  a  ic- 
beUion  which  is  not  supported  by  any  foreign  power." 

The  letter  of  the  king  of  England  to  the  empress  was  in 
his  own  hand  ;  her  answer  was  purposely  in  that  of  her  private 
secretary. 

The  answer  was  so  exceptionable  that  the  British  envoy 
was  in  doubt  whether  it  was  fit  to  be  received ;  but  he  sup- 
pressed his  discontent.  His  king  found  the  manner  of  the 
empress  not  "  genteel ; "  for,  said  he,  "  she  has  not  had  the 
civility  to  answer  me  in  her  own  hand ;  and  has  thrown  out 
expressions  that  may  be  civil  to  a  Eussian  ear,  but  certainly  not 
to  more  civilized  ones." 

The  eondi^ct  of  this  negotiation  was  watched  by  every  court 
fiom  Moscow  to  Madrid ;  l)ut  no  foreign  influence  had  any  share 
in  determining  the  empress.  The  decision  was  founded  on  her 
own  judgment  and  that  of  her  ministers.  When  a  transient 
report  prevailed,  that  the  English  request  was  to  be  granted, 
Yergcnnes  wrote  to  the  French  envoy  at  Moscow :  "  I  cannot 
reconcile  Catharine's  elevation  of  soul  with  the  dishonorable 
idea  of  trafficking  in  the  blood  of  her  subjects."  To  the  envoy 
Paniu  denied  the  truth  of  the  rumor,  adding:  "Nor  is  it  con- 
astent  with  the  dignity  of  England  to  employ  foreign  troops 
against  its  own  subjects." 

The  empress  continued  to  be  profuse  of  courtesies  to  Gun- 
ning ;  and,  when  in  December  he  took  his  leave,  she  renewed 
the  assurances  of  hor  readiness  to  assist  his  king  on  all  occa- 
sions, aiding:  "  But  one  cannot  go  beyond  one's  means." 


li    ^1 

I'      V:' 


I      f         1^ 


1? 


I  I 

!  I 

'  1 

i  I 


'f 


i- 


'   1 , !  fi 


'  n  '- 


280 


AMERICA  AuMS  FOR  SELF-DEFExNCE.    ep.  m. ;  on.  xvin. 


I». 


s    I 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FINAL   Als-SWICR   OF   PAKLIAMI.-NT    TO   AM'^mCA. 

Ootouek-Becembkk  it 75. 

fl.o!r-'"'i'^"'?  '^  parliament,  as  they  reached  London  for 
the  session,  heard  rumors  that  the  empress  of  Russia  was  to 

therebelhon  rn  Amenea.     "When  the  Russians   arrive  will 
you  go  and  see  then-  eamp?"  wrote  Edward  Gibbon,  the  grea 
histonan  m  October,  to  a  friend.      "  The  worst  of  it  isf  the 
Baltic  will  soon  be  frozen  up,  and  it  must  bo  late  next  ye 

of  tl' Rnr'r  '  •"•  ^  ''  ^''^'"^*  ''  ^''''''''  ''^-'^  *^-  "-takes 
of  the  Eritsh  ministers  could  be  so  great  as  they  really  were 

lie  received  hints  of  negotiations  for  Russian  troops ;  yet   ouTd 

ml^rL  ;''"'  be  willing  to  send  foreign  nL^enaro 
make  ^ar  on  his  own  subjects  ?  Henry  IV.  of  France  would 
not  have  accepted  the  aid  of  foreign  tLps  to  redle  P^ri 
their  employment  by  Bi-itain  would  render  t  impossib  e  in  "  v' 
event  to  restore  aifectionate  relations  between  the  p  „^^ 
and  the  colon  cs.  So  re'isouprl  tl,n  -r  '^i''"^"'^  state 
France  but  tl.o  7?..:fM  "^^''^^"^^  ^^e  guiding  r-tatesman  of 
1  ranc.  but  the  British  government,  with  fierce  imnetuositv 
^.rned  to  the  many  pnncelings  of  Germany,  who  Z  h  d  tlfe 

come  in,  to  the  joy  of  Lord  North;  but  the  kin.o-  saw  dano-er 

o'nl  .V;r'       n'""'"^'  "  ""'''  ^PP^^^'  '^  Popular'ipi    on     t 

ong  as  the  pubbc  was  under  the  delusion  that  the  colonies  had 

long  premeditated  independence,  violent  n.easures  weri  Ic  nii^ 

esced  in  "  by  a  majority  of  individuals  of  all  ranks  ^P^. 


177D.    FINAL  ANSWER  OF  PAKLIAMENT  TO  AMERICA.    281 

eions,"  and  no  effect  was  produced  on  tlio  funds  or  on  com- 
meree. 

"  I  am  figliting  tlie  battle  of  the  legislature,"  said  the  king 
as  the  time  of  meeting  parliament  drew  near;  "I  therefore 
have  a  right  to    expect  an   almost  unanimous  support-   I 
-enow  the  uprightness  of  my  intentions,  and  am  ready  to  stand 
any  attack  of  ever  so  dangerous  a  kind."     The  good  sense 
of  the  English  people  reasoned  very  differently,  and  found  an 
organ  among  the  ministers.     The  duke  of  Grafton  by  letter  en- 
treated Lord  Nortli  to  go  great  lengths  to  bring  about  a  durable 
reconcihation,  giving  as  his  reasons  that  "the  general  inchna- 
tion  of  men  of  property  in  England  differed  from  the  deciara- 
tions  of  the  congress  in  America  little  more  than  in  words ; 
that  many  hearty  friends  to  government  had  altered  their  opin- 
ions by  the  events  of  the  year ;  that  their  confidence  in  a  strong 
party  among  the  colonists,  ready  to  second  a  regular  military 
force,  was  at  an  end  ;  that,  if  the  British  regular  force  should 
be  doubled,  the  Americans,  whose  behavior  akeady  had  far 
surpassed  every  one's  expectation,  could  and  would  increase 
theirs  accordingly;  that  the  contest  was  not  only  hopeless,  but 
fraught  with  disgrace ;  that  the  attendant  expenses  would  lay 
upon  the  country  a  burden  which  nothing  could  justify  but  an 
insult  from  a  foreign  enemy;    that,  therefore,  the  colonies 
should  bo  invited  by  their  deputies  to  state  to  parliament  their 
wishes  and  expectations,  and  a  truce  be  proclaimed,  until  the 
issue  should  be  known." 

Of  this  comnmnication  Lord  North  took  no  note  whatever 
until  within  six  days  of  the  opening  of  parliament,  and  then 
replied  by  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  intended  speech.  Hastening 
to  court,  Grafton  complained  of  the  violent  and  impracticable 
schemes  of  the  ministers,  framed  in  a  misconception  of  the  re- 
sources of  the  colonies  ;  and  he  added  :  "  Deluded  themselves 
they  are  deluding  your  majesty."  The  king  debated  the  busi- 
ness at  large ;  but  when  he  announced  that  a  numerous  body  of 
German  troops  was  to  join  the  British  forces,  Grafton  an- 
B^yered  ;  "Your  majesty  will  find  too  late  that  twice  the  number 
will  only  increase  the  disgrace,  and  never  effect  the  purpose."  * 
On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  two  days  after  the  foilnre 
*  From  the  papers  of  the  duke  of  Grafton,  communicated  to  me  ia  1847. 


i-i* 


•i.' 


■|.      13. 


!  11 

J 

'    f 

1  \ 

!i  A-Jl 

il 


282       AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  iii. ;  cii.  xTiir. 

of  the  first  great  effort  to  Lire  Russian  mercenaries  became 
known  to  the  government,  the  king  met  the  parliament. 
Making  no  alhision  to  tlie  American  congress  or  to  its  j^eti- 
tionfor  conciliation  and  peace,  he  charged  the  colonies  with 
levying  a  rebellious  war  for  tlie  purpose  of  establishing  an  in- 
dependent empire.  He  professed  to  liave  received  the  most 
friendly  offers  of  foreign  assistance.  He  recommended  an 
increase  of  the  navy  and  the  army;  at  the  same  time,  he 
proposed  to  send  commissioners  with  power  to  grant  pardons 
and  receive  the  submission  of  the  several  colonies. 

In  the  house  of  commons  Aclaud,  who  moved  the  ad- 
dress, presented  the  question  as  between  the  independence  of 
America,  or  her  submission  r'  Lyttelton,  a  former  governor 
of  South  Carolina,  in  seconding  him,  "  seemed  to  take  pleas- 
ure in  informing  the  house  that  the  negroes  in  the  southern 
colony  were  numerous,  and  ready  to  imbrue  their  hands  in 
the  blood  of  their  masters."  The  address  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  against  one  hundred 
and  ten. 

On  tlie  report  of  the  address,  the  debate  was  renewed.    « If 
we  suffer  by  the  war,"  said  Lord  North,  "the  Americans  will 
suffer  much  more.     Yet,"  he  added,  "I  wish  to  God,  if  it 
were  possible,  to  put  the  colonies  as  they  were  in  1763."     His 
seeming  disinclination  to  the  measures  of  his  own  ministry 
drew  on  him  a  rebuke  from  Fox  for  not  resigning  his  place. 
"The  present  war,"  argued  Adair  at  length,""  took  its  rise 
from  the  assertion  of  a  right,  at  best  but  doubtful  in  itself; 
from  whence  the  warmest  advocates  for  it  have  long  been  forced 
to  admit  that  this  country  can  never  derive  a  single  shillino- 
of  advantage.     The  Americans  say:  'Place  us  in  the  situa- 
tion of  the  year  sixty-three,  and  we  will  return  to  our  con- 
stitutional subjection.'      Take  them  at  their  word.     If  they 
should  recede  from  their  own  proposals,  you  may  then  have 
recourse  to  war,  with  the  advantage  of  a  united  instead  of  a 
divided  people  at  home."     Sir  Gilbert  Elliot  was  unwilling 
"to  send  a  large  armament  to  America  without  sending  at  the 
same  time  terms  of  accommodation."     "I  vote  for  the  ad- 
dress,'^'said  Rigby,  "because  it  sanctifies  coercive  measures. 
America  must  be  conquered,  and  the  i)resent  rubclllou  nuist  bo 


lie 


1775.    FmAL  ANSWER  OF  PARLIAMEXT  TO  AMERICA.    283 

criislied  ere  the  dispute  will  be  ended."     The  commons  un- 
hesitatingly  confirmed  their  vote  of  the  previous  night. 

Among  the  lords,  Shelburne  spoke  of  the  petiSon  of  the 
congress  as  the  fairest  ground  for  an  honorable  and  advantage- 
ous acconmiodation ;  and  of  Franklin  as  one  whom  "  he  had 
long  and  intimately  known,  and  had  ever  found  constant  and 
earnest  in  the  wish  for  conciliation  upon  the  terms  of  ancient 
connection."  His  words  were  a  projihecy  of  peace,  and  of 
himself  and  Franklin  as  its  mediators ;  but  on  that  night  he 
was  overborne  by  a  majority  of  two  to  one.  Some  of  the  mi- 
nority entered  a  protest,  in  which  they  said :  « AVe  conceive 
the  calling  in  foreign  forces  to  decide  domestic  quarrels  to  bo 
a  measure  both  disgraceful  and  dangerous." 

That  same  day  the  university  of  O'xford,  the  favored  printer 
of  the  translated  Bible  for  all  whose  mother  tongue  was  the 
Euglisli,  tlie  natural  guardian  of  the  principles  and  the  ex- 
ample of  AVycliffe  and  Latimer  and  Ridley  and  Cranmer,  the 
tutor  of  the  youth  of  England,  addressed  the  king  against  the 
Americans  as  "a  people  who  had  forfeited  theii-  lives  and  for- 
tunes to  the  justice  of  the  state." 

On  the  last  day  of  October,  Lord  Stormont,  the  British 
ambassador,  was  received  at  the  French  court.     The  king  of 
France,  whose  sympathies  were  all  on  the  side  of  monarcliical 
power,  said  to  him :  "  Happily  the  op]iosition  party  is  now 
very  weak."     From  the  king,  Stormont  went  to  Yergeimes, 
who  ex]n-essed  the  desire  to  Hve  in  perfect  harmony  with  Eng- 
land; "far  from  wishing  to  increase  your  embarrassments," 
said  he,  "  we  see  them  with  some  uneasiness."     "  The  conse- 
quences," observed  Stormont,  "  cannot  escape  a  man  of  your 
penetration  and  extensive  views."     "  Indeed,  thev  are  very  ob- 
vious," responded  Vergennes ;    "they  are  os  obvious  as  the 
consequences  of  the  cession  of  Canada.     I  was  at  Constanti- 
nople when  the  last  peace  was  made  ;  when  I  heard  its  condi- 
tions, I  told  several  of  my  friends  there  that  England  would 
ere  long  have  reason  to  repent  of  having  removed  the  only 
check  that  could  keep  her  colonies  in  awe.     My  prediction  has 
been  but  too  well  verified.     I  equally  see  the  consequences 
that  must  follow  the  independence  of  North  America,  if  vour 
colonies  should  carry  that  point,  at  which  they  now  so  visibly 


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284      AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  ni. ;  cii.  xviii. 

aim.  Tlioy  iniglit,  when  they  pleased,  conquer  both  your  islands 
and  ours.  I  am  persuaded  that  they  would  not  stop  there,  Hit 
would  in  process  of  time  advance  to  the  southern  continent  o.' 
America,  and  cither  subdue  its  inhabitanLs  or  carry  them  along 
with  them,  and  in  the  end  not  leave  a  foot  of  that  hemisphere 
in  the  iwssession  of  any  European  power.  All  these  conse- 
quences will  not  indeed  be  immediate:  neither  you  nor  I 
shall  live  to  see  them  ;  but  for  being  remote  they  are  not  less 
sure." 

On  the  firfit  of  November  the  duke  of  Manchester  eaid  to 
the  lords:  "The  violence  of  the  times  has  wrested  America 
from  the  Britidi  crown,  and  spumed  the  jewel  because  the 
setting  appeared  uncouth ; "  but  the  debate  which  he  opened 
had  no  effect  except  that  Grafton  took  part  with  him,  and  as  a 
consequence  resigned  his  place  as  keeper  of  the  privy  seal.  On 
the  tenth  Richard  Penn  was  called  to  the  bar  of  the  house  of 
lords,  where  ho  bore  witness  in  great  detail  to  the  sincerity  of 
the  Amciican  congress  in  their  wish  for  conciliation,  and  to 
the  unanimity  of  support  which  they  received  from  the  people. 
The  duke  of  Eichmond  proposed  to  accept  the  petition  from' 
that  congress  to  the  king  as  a  ground  for  conciliation ;  he  was 
ably  sup]iorted  by  Shelburne ;  but  his  motion,  like  every  simi- 
lar motion  in  either  house,  was  negatived  by  a  majority  of 
about  two  to  one. 

On  the  same  day  Rochford  retired  on  a  pension,  making 
way  for  Lord  Weymouth,  who  greatly  surpassed  him  in  ability 
and  resolution.  Daitmouth  took  the  privy  seal,  but  ^dthout  a 
seat  m  the  cabinet.  The  American  department  was  transferred 
to  Lord  George  Saekville  ( Germain,  who  concentrated  in  himself 
all  the  political  patronage  of  the  house  of  Dorset,  and  promised 
to  carry  out  the  measures  recommended  by  him  in  the  house  of 
commons  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  Miu'ch  1774.  The  man  thus 
selected  to  conduct  the  civil  war  in  America  stood  before  Eu- 
rope  as  an  officer  cashiered  for  cowardice  on  the  field  of  battle. 
George  IL,  who  was  brave  and  a  strict  disciplinarian,  thought 
the  sentence  just,  and  was  inexorable  toward  him.  His  admis- 
sion to  court  at  the  accession  of  George  IIL  confinned  the  rup- 
ture between  Pitt  and  the  earl  of  Bute.  He  owed  his  rehabili- 
tation to  Rocidngham,  to  whom  he  instantly  proved  false.    Chat- 


m 


1775.    FINAL  ANSWER   OF  PARLIAMENT  TO  AMERICA.    285 

ham  ^ould  never  sit  with  him  at  the  council  board.     Haunted 
by  corrodmg  recollections  and  stupidly  self-coniident,  he  en- 
tered on  the  high  office,  for  which  he  was  of  all  men  the  least 
competent ;  eager  to  efface  his  ignominy  by  rivalling  the  career 
of  ritt  111  the  seven  years'  war.     But  he  had  not  any  one  quah 
ity  that  htted  him  for  an  important  miHtary  office :  so  that  his 
appointment  was  of  the  very  best  augury  for  the  insurgent 
Americans.     Minutely  precise  and  formal,  he  had  a  feverish 
activity,  punctuahty  to  a  minute,  and  personal  application,  but 
no  sagacity,  nor  quick  perception,  nor  soundness  of  judgment 
nor  that  mastery  over  others  which  comes  from  force  of  charac- 
ter and  warmth  of  heart.     He  could  not  plan  a  campaign,  and 
was  a  most  uncomfortable  chief,  always  proposing  to  the  o-en^ 
eral  officers  under  his  direction  measures  which  they  had  not 
the  means  to  execute,  and  always  throwing  upon  them  the  fault 
of  failure.     His  rancor  toward  those  at  whom  he  took  oifence 
was  bitter  and  unending;  his  temper  petulant,  and  ruled  by 
passions  violent  and  constant,  yet  petty  in  their  objects.    Ap- 
parelled on  Sunday  morning  in  gala,  as  if  for  the  drawing- 
room,  he  constantly  marched  out  all  his  household  to  his  parish 
church,  where  he  would  mark  time  for  the  singing  gallery, 
chide  a  rustic  chorister  for  a  discord,  stand  up  during  the  ser- 
mon to  survey  the  congregation  or  overawe  the  idle,  and  ges- 
ticulate approbation  to  the  preacher,  or  cheer  him  by  name. 

The  capacity  of  Germain  had  been  greatly  overrated.  He 
was  restless  and  loved  intrigue ;  ambitious,  opinionated,  and  full 
of  envy;  when  he  spoke,  it  was  arrogantly,  as  if  to  set  others 
right ;  his  nature  combined  contemptuous  haugh^ness  toward 
his  inferiors  and  subordinates,  and  meanness  of  spirit.  Without 
fidelity,  fixed  principles,  or  logical  clearness  of  mind,  unfit  to  con- 
duct armies  or  affairs,  he  joined  cowardice  with  love  of  superi- 
ority and  "malevolence"  toward  those  who  thwari;ed  or  op- 
posed him.  He  mms  rich ;  but  in  a  period  of  corrupt  government 
he  was  distinguished  for  the  inordinate  gratification  of  his  own 
cupidity  in  the  -xercise  of  his  powers  of  patronage  and  confis- 
cation. Though  smooth  and  kindly  to  his  inferiors  and  de- 
pendants, he  was  capable  of  ordering  the  most  atrocious  acts 
of  cnielty ;  could  rebuke  his  generals  for  checking  savages  in 
their  fury  as  destroyers;   and  at  night,  on  coming  home  to 


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2S6       AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  ii,.;  en.  xvm. 

liis  supper  and  his  claret,  the  friendless  man,  nnlovin^r  and  un- 
loved,^ could,  with  cold,  vengeful  nudice,  njan  how  to  lay 
America  in  ashes,  since  ho  knew  not  how  to  reduce  her  to  sub- 
mission. 

Germain's  appointment  shows  how  little  the  sympathies  of 
the  English  people  were  considered ;  the  administration,  as  it 
was  now  constituted,  was  the  weakest,  the  most  destitute  of 
principles,  and  the  most  unpopular  of  that  century.    The  Eng- 
land that  the  world  revered,  the  England  that  kept  alive  fn 
Europe  the  vestal  fire  of  freedom,  was  at  this  time  outside  of 
the  government,  though  steadily  gaining  pohtical  strength 
"Cluitham,  while  he  had  life  in  him,  was  its  nerve."    Had 
Grenville  been  living,  it  would  have  hicluded  Grenville ;  it 
retahied  Rockingham,  Grenville's  successor;  it  had  now' re- 
covered Grafton,  Chatham's  successor.     The  king's  policy  was 
not  in  harmony  with  the  England  of  the  revolution,  nor  with 
that  of  the  eighteenth  century,  nor  with  that  of  the  nineteenth. 
The  England  of  to-day,  which  receives  and  brightens  and  passes 
along  the  torch  of  liberty,  has  an  honest  lineage,  and  sprino-g 
from  the  England  of  the  last  century ;  but  it  had  no  represen- 
tative m  the  ministry  of  Lord  North  or  the  majority  of  the 
fourteenth  parliament.     America  would  right  herself  within  a 
year;  Britain  and  Ireland  must  wait  more  than  a  half- century. 
How  completely  the  ministry  were  stumbling  along  with- 
ont  a  policy  appeared  from  the  debates.     On  the  eighth  Lord 
Barrington  asked  of  the  house  in  a  conunitteo  of  supply  an 
appropriation  for  t^venty-five  thousand  men  to  be  employed  in 
Amcnca,  and  said  with  seeming  authority  of  a  minister:  "The 
idea  of  taxing  America  is  entirelv  given  up;  the  only  consid- 
eration IS  how  to  secure  the  constitutional  dependency  of  that 
country.     The  general  plan  adopted  by  administration  is  first 
to  arm,  and  then  send  out  commissioners."     But  when  Lord 
North,  on  the  thirteenth,  in  a  committee  of  supply  moved  the 
full  tax  of  four  shillings  in  the  pound  on  land,  he  had  to  en- 
counter and  overcome  the  rankling  discontent  of  the  landed 
gentry,  for  whom  a  reduction  of  a  shilling  in  the  pound  of  the 
laud-tax  was  to  have  been  the  first  fruits  of  their  sup]wrt  of 
the  American  measures,  and  he  spoke  in  this  wise :  «  When  his 
majesty's  ministers  said  that  the  idea  of  taxation  was  aban- 


as  it 


1775.    FINAL  ANSWER  OF  PAULIAMEXT  TO  AMERICA.    287 

doned,  they  never  intended  by  tliat  expression  more  tl.an  that 
taxation  is  but  a  matter  of  secondary  consideration,  when  tho 
supremacy  and  legislative  authority  of  tin's  country  are  at  stake, 
taxation  is  not,  nor  ever  was  out  of  their  view.     It  should  be 
insisted  on  and  enforced,  to  insure  your  legislative  authority, 
though  no  kind  of  advantage  should  arise  from  it."     The  ex- 
planation gave  satisfaction ;  Lord  North  retained  support  by  a 
Bacnhce  of  his  opinions  and  of  America. 
^      On  the  sixteenth  Burke  brought  forward  a  bill  for  compos- 
ing the  exishng  troubles  by  renouncing  the  pretension  to  an 
American  revenue.     -If  we  are  to  have  no  peace,"  replied 
Cxermain,  -  unless  we  give  up  the  right  of  taxation,  the  contest 
IS  brought  to  Its  fair  issue.     I  trust  we  shall  draw  a  revenue 
from  Amenea;  the  spiric  of  this  country  will  go  along  with 
me  in  the  idea  to  crush  rebellious  resistance." 

As  he  said  this,  the  orders  were  already  on  the  way  to  hire 
troops  of  the  roytelets  of  Brunswick  and  Ilesso-Cassd,  and,  in 
defiance  of  the  laws  of  the  empire,  to  raise  recruits  in  Ger- 
many; for,  If  Lritain  .vas  to  crush  the  Americans,  it  could 
not  be  done  by  Englishmen. 

In  Ireland  the  ministry  controlled  a  majority  of  her  leodsla- 
tnre,  and  sought  to  allay  discontent  by  concessions  in  favor 
of  iier  commerce  and  manufactures.     Tho  consent  of  the  Irish 
house  of  commons  was  requested  to  sending  four  thousand  of 
the  troops  on  the  Irish  establishment  to  America,  and  receiving 
in  their  stead  four  thousand  German  Protestants.     "  If  we  pive 
our  consent,"  objected  Ponsonby,  in  the  debate  on  the  twenty- 
filth  of  mvember,  "  we  shall  take  part  against  America,  con- 
trary to  justice,  to  prudence,  and  to  humanity."     "  The  war  is 
unjust,"  said  Fitzgibbon,  "  and  Ireland  has  no  reason  to  be  a 
party  therein."     Sir  Edward  Is^ewcnham  could  not  agree  to 
send  more  troops  to  butcher  men  who  were  fighting  for  their 
liberty;  and  he  reprobated  the  introduction  of  foreio-n  mer- 
cenaries as  equally  militating  against  true  reason  and  sound 
policy      "If  men  must  be  sent  to  America,"  cried   George 
Ogle,     send  foreign  mercciiarios,  not  the  sons  of  Ireland " 
Hussey  Burgh  condemned  the  American  war  as  «a  violation 
of  the  law  of  nations,  the  law  of  the  land,  the  law  of  humanity, 
the  law  of  nature ;  he  would  not  vote  a  single  sword  without 


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288       AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Er.  III. :  en.  xvni. 


an  address  recommending  conciliatory  measures ;  the  ministry, 
if  victorious,  would  only  establish  a  right  to  the  harvest  when 
they  had  burnt  the  grain."  Yet  the  troops  were  voted  by  one 
hundred  and  twenty-one  against  seventy-six,  although  the  reso- 
lution to  replace  them  by  foreign  Protestants  was  negatived. 

The  majority  in  both  parliaments  did  n(jt  (piiet  Lord  Nortli. 
Sir  George  Savillo  describes  him  "  as  one  day  for  conciliation  ; 
but,  as  soon  as  the  first  word  is  out,  he  is  "checked  and  con- 
trolled, and,  instead  of  conciliation,  out  comes  confusion.''  On 
the  first  of  December  he  pressed  to  a  second  reading  the  Ameri- 
can bill,  which  consolidatod  the  several  penal  aces  and  en- 
larged them  into  a  prohibition  of  the  trade  of  all  the  thirteen 
colonies.  American  vessels  and  goods  were  made  the  property 
of  their  captors ;  the  iilsoners  might  be  compelled  to  serve  the 
king  even  against  their  own  countrymen.  No  one  American 
grievance  was  removed. 

The  atrocity  of  the  measure  was  exposed  in  the  house  of 
commons,  but  without  effect ;  on  the  third  reading,  in  the 
house  of  lords,  M'usfield  said:  "The  people  of  America  a-e 
as  much  bound  to  obey  the  acts  of  the  British  parUament  as 
the  inhabitants  of  London  and  Middlesex.  I  have  not  a  doubt 
in  my  mind  that  ever  since  the  peace  of  Paris  the  northern 
colonies  have  been  meditating  a  Ftate  of  independence  on  this 
country.  Put,  allowing  that  all  their  professions  arj  genuine, 
are  we  to  stand  idle  because  Ave  are  told  this  is  an  unjust  war? 
The  justice  of  the  cause  must  give  way  to  our  present  situa- 
tion ;  and  the  consequences  which  must  ensue  should  we  re- 
cede, would,  nay  must,  be  infinitely  worse  than  agreeing  to 
a  final  separation."  After  these  words,  the  bill  was  adopted 
without  a  division.  ' 

Outside  of  parilament,  the  opinion  of  the  most  intelligent 
among  the  philosophers  of  Britain  was  divided.  The  luke- 
wai.M  ['rosbyterian,  William  Kobertson,  would  have  the  Brit- 
i=1.  ■'  I-  <nlt-  •  --t  one-  exert  the  jwwer  of  the  British  empire  in 
its  full  fore."  and  station  a  "few  regiments  in  each  capital." 
Like  Mansfield,  he  was  certain  that  the  Americans  had  been 
aiming  all  along  at  independence ;  and,  like  he  Bedford  party, 
he  held  it  fortunate  that  matters  had  so  .soon  been  brought 
to  a  crisis.     As  a  lover  of  mankind,  he  wa,  ready  to  bewail 


1775.    FINAL  ANSWER  OF  PARLIAMENT  TO  AMERICA.    289 

tlie  cl.ock  to  prosperous  and  growing  states;  but,  said  ho,  «we 
are  past  the  hour  of  lenitives  and  Imlf  exertions  » 

On  tlie  other  hand,  John  Millar,  the  professor  of  hiw  in  the 
un,vers.ty  of  (Jlasgow,  taught  the  youth  of  Scotland  who  fre- 
qnented  Im  lectures  "that  the  repuhliean  form  of  g<>vernment 

Intr"'  "^  '"*'  "'"'  '''  '  ''''  ^'"'^"  -  ^  -'''  -tensivo 
"I  cannot  but  agree  witli  him,"  said  David  ITume,  who 
yet  maintajned  that  it  would  bo  "  n.ost  cruninal "  to  disjoint 
the  estabhshcd  govenimcTit  in  Great  IJ.itain,  where  he  believed 
a  repul.hc  would  so  certainly  be  the  immediate  forerunner  of 
despotism  that  none  but  fools  would  think  to  augment  hberty 
by  shakmg  oil  monarchy.     IJut  he  had  no  faith  hi  the  univet 

lulX-  '".  f  '^".  ^"°"'^^«^"^'^»  P™->Jo.  "The  ancient 
repubhes,  sa.d  he  nsuig  al,ove  the  iufiuenee  of  his  philoso- 
phy, "were  somewhat  ferocious  and  t.ni  by  bloody  factions  • 
but  they  were  still  much  preferable  to  the  aLientlm  r^S 
o  anstocracies,  which  seem  to  have  been  rputo  intolerable. 
Modern  manners  have  corrected  thh  abuse ;  and  all  the  repub- 
lics in  Europe,  without  exception,  are  so  well  governed  that 
one  IS  at  a  loss  to  which  we  should  give  the  p-eference  I 
am  an  American  in  my  principles,  and  wish  we  would  let 
roTer  »  "'  *''  ^'''^'™  ''''  ^^'^^"^"'^  themselves,  as  they  think 

But  one  greater  than  Eobertson  and  wiser  than  ITumc  n-ave 
the  best  expression  to  the  nnnd  of  Scotland.     Adam  Sinith 
the  peer  and  the  teacher  of  statesmen,  enrolled  amonc.  the 
benefactors  ot  our  race,  one  who  had  closely  studied  the  econo- 
my ot  I  ranee  as  well  a.  of  Britain,  and  who  in  his  style  com- 
bined the  grace  and  the  clearness  of  a  man  of  the  wm-ld  with 
profound  wisdom  and  the  sincere  search  for  truth,  apj.lied  to 
the  crisis  those  principles  of  freedom  and  right  which  made 
SCO  land,  under  every  disadvantage  of  an  oppressive  form  of 
feudalism  ami  a  deceitful  system  of  representation,  an  efficient 
nstramen    in  promoting  tlie  liberties  of  mankind.     He  would 
have  the  American  colonies  either  fairly  represented  in  parlia, 
ment  or  independent.    The  prohibitory  laws  of  England  toward 
the  colonies  he  pronounced  "a  manifest  violation  of  the  most 
Bacred  nghts,"  "imperthient  badges  of  slavery  imposed  uoon 

VOL.   IV.— 19  ^1  X     "■ 


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290       AMERICA  ALMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  XVIII. 


them  without  any  sufficient  reason  by  the  groundless  jealousy 
of  the  merchants  and  manufacturers  of  the  mother  country." 
"  Grea*.  Britain,"  said  he,  "  derives  nothing  but  loss  from  the 
dominion  she  assumes  over  her  colonies."  "^It  is  not  very 
probable  that  they  will  ever  voluntarily  submit  to  us;  the 
blood  whicli  must  be  shed  in  forcing  them  to  do  so  is  every 
drop  of  it  the  blood  of  those  who  are  or  of  tlujsc  whom  we 
wish  to  have  for  our  fellow-citizens."  "  They  are  very  weak 
who  flatter  themselves  that,  in  the  state  to  which  things  arc 
come,  our  colonies  will  be  easily  conquered  by  force  alone." 
And  he  pointed  out  the  vast  immediate  and  continuing  advan- 
tages which  Great  Britain  would  derive  if  she  "  should  volun- 
tarily give  up  all  authority  over  her  colonics,  and  leave  them 
to  elect  their  own  magistrates,  to  enact  their  own  laws,  and  to 
make  peace  and  war  as  they  might  think  proper." 

-Tosiah  Tucker,  an  English  royalist  writer  on  political 
economy,  had  studied  perseveriugly  the  laws  of  nature,  which 
are  the  laws  of  God,  in  their  appHcation  to  commerce;  and, 
at  the  risk  of  being  rated  a  visionary  enthusiast,  he  sought  to 
convince  the  landed  gentry  that  Great  Britain  would  lose 
nothing  if  she  should  renounce  her  colonies  and  cultivate  com- 
merce with  them  as  an  independent  nation.  This  he  enforced 
witli  such  strength  of  argument  and  perspicuity  of  statement 
that  he  madj  a  proselyte  of  Soamo  Jenyns  who  M-rote  verses 
in  his  praise,  and  was  approved  by  Lord  Mansiield. 

Through  the  clouds  of  conflict  and  jxission  rose  the  cheer- 
ing idea  that  the  impending  change,  Avhich  had  been  depre- 
cated as  the  ruin  of  the  empire,  would  bring  no  disaster  to 
Britain,  American  statesmen  had  struggled  to  avoid  a  separa- 
tion ;  the  measures  of  the  British  government,  as  one  by  one 
they  Avcrc  successively  bonie  across  the  Atlantic— disregard  of 
the  petition  of  congress  by  the  king,  his  si)eecli  to  parhament, 
his  avowed  negotia  ions  for  mercenaries,  the  closure  of  the 
ports  of  all  the  thirteen  colonies  and  the  conflscation  of  all 
their  property  on  tlie  ocean— forced  upon  tliem  the  conviction 
that  they  must  protect  and  govern  themselves. 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CAN.VDA. 


291 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANNEXATION    OF    CANADA. 

August-December  1775. 

The  continental  congress  had,  on  tlie  first  of  June  1775 
disclaimed  the  purpose  of  invading  Canada;  and  a  French 
veision  of  their  resolution  was  distributed  among  its  inhabi- 
tants.    Eut  on  the  ninth  of  that  month  the  governor  of  the 

frZr  ^I'f.'^T"^  '^''  ^'^^'^'^^  borderers  to  be  rebellious 
tiaitois,  established  martial  law,  summoned  the  French  peas- 
.n  ly  to  serve  under  the  old  colonial  nobility,  and  instigated 
ahke  tlie  converted  Indian  tribes  and  the  savagL  of  the  North- 
west  to^ake  up  tlie  hatcliet  against  Kew  York  and  New  Enl 
land.  _  These  movements  made  the  occupation  of  Canada  by 
America  an  act  of  self-defence;  it  received  the  unflinching 
approval  of  Dickinson  and  occupied  in  a  special  manner  th! 
attention  ot  New  York. 

The  French  nobility  and  the  Catholic  clergy  acrpiiesced  in 

TidenT^  dT\   ,  fr""™-"*'.  ^"*  '  ^"-^^  ^'''  ''  *'-  l^"tish 
lesident.  detested  their  sul)joction  to  arbitrary  power;  and  the 

Canachan  peasantry  denied  the  authority  of  their  seigniors  as 
magistrates,  resisted  their  claim  of  a  right  to  commaml  their 
military  services,  and  were  willing  to  welcome  an  invasion. 

At  the  instance  of  Carleton,  the  Catholic  bishop  sent  a 
mandate  to  the  several  parishes,  to  be  read  by  the  cletgy  after 
divine  service  ;  but  the  peasantry  persisted  in  refusing  to  turn 
out.  ^ 

^^^atched  Major  John   Erown   to  learn  the     ■  .to  of  Canad. 
On  the  twenty-seventh  of  July  the  regiment .  .  Green  Moun^ 


-i  :i  ; 


:  1  '•^l!l 


li     r    '1:1 


'• 

i                  i 

1       ' 

1         '1  :     < 

1      l!  ' 

l;:,i 


I     •'. 


292        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ev.ui.;  en.  xix. 

tain  Boys  elected  its  officers ;  and  Setli  Warner,  a  man  of 
courage  and  good  judgment,  was  cliosen  its  lieutenant-colo- 
nel. Preparations  were  made  for  crossing  the  boundary ;  but 
Schuyler  had  only  twelve  hundred  men,  and,  judging  them 
insufficient  for  the  enterprise,  lie  waited  for  the  orders  which, 
on  the  sixth  of  August,  he  solicited  from  congress.  Before  the 
middle  of  the  month  Brown  returned  from  a  ]K'rilous  march 
of  observation,  and  reported  that  now  was  the  time  to  acfpiire 
Canada,  where  there  were  only  about  four  himdred  regulars, 
beside  the  garrison  of  three  hundred  at  St.  John's;  that  the 
inhabitants  were  friends;  that  the  militia  refused  to  sei-ve 
under  the  French  officers  lately  appointed.  At  the  same  time, 
a  new  arrival  at  Ticonderoga  changed  the  spirit  of  the  camp. 

We  have  seen  Richard  Montgomery,  who  had  served  in 
the  army  from  the  age  of  fifteen,  gain  distinction  in  the  seven 
years'  war.     Failing  after  the  peace  in  his  pursuit  of  the  pro- 
motion to  which  his  good  service  gave  him  a  right  to  aspire, 
he  sold  his  commission  and  emignited  to  New  York.     Here, 
in  1773,  he  renewed  his  acquaintance  with  the  fann'ly  of  Eob- 
ert  E.^  Livingston,  and  married  his  eldest  daughter.     Never 
intending  to  draw  his  sword  again,  studious  in  his  habits  he 
wished  for  a  country  life  at  Ilhinebeck;  and  his  wife,  whose 
affections  he  entirely  iwssessed,  willingly  conformed  to  his 
tastes.     The  father  of  his  wife  used  to  sar  that,  ''  if  American 
liberty  should  not  be  maintained,  he  would  carry  his  family  to 
Switzeriand,  as  the  only  free  country  in   the\\orid."     Jler 
grandfather,  the  aged  Eobert  Livingston,  was  the  stanchest 
patriot  of  them  all.     In  1773,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  he 
foretold  the  conflict  with  England ;  a^  the  news  of  the  retreat 
of  the  British  from  Concord,  he  confidently  aimoimced  Ameri- 
can independence.     After  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  as  he  lay 
calmly  on  his  deuth-bed,  his  last  words  were :  "  What  news 
from  Boston  ? " 

The  county  of  Dutchess,  in  A])ril  1775,  selected  ]\[ontgom- 
cry  as  a  delegate  to  the  flrst  provincial  convention  in  New 
York,  where  he  distinguished  himself  by  modesty,  deciaion, 
and  sound  judgment.  Accepting  his  appointment  as  briga- 
dier-general, he  reluctantly  bade  adieu  to  his  "(piiet  scheme  of 
life,"  "periiaps,"  he  said,  '^ forever:  but  the  will  of  an  op- 


1775. 


ANNEXATIOxY  OF  CANADA. 


293 

pressed  people,  compelled  to  choose  between  libertv  nnr.    i 
very,  must  be  obeyed."  ^-^  ^"""^  ^^^- 

plajmg  to  the  world  tl,e  stengtl,  of  the  eonfc-deraM  eluie" 
.t  was  c.„la,g„,g  tl,o  sphere  of  operations,  but  a  faih.re  ™l  l' 
no-pan-  the  means  of  keeping  the  conn'nand  of  Late  Cham 

When,  on  the  seventeenth  of  An-nst  he  arrivod  of  T- 

treatino-Iv  to  ,•,.•„».•','  ^I"'"S'""eiy  wrote  to  him  en- 
I^^ve  i  eonfiV  ,'-""^  "'""'  ""  "M'odition,  as  the  way  to 

give  t  eonflcence  m  his  spirit  and  activity.    On  the  eve,^.  ° 
of  the  twenty-SLxth,  Schnyler,  at  Albany/received  an  eCrel 
fronr  Waslnngton,  „rgi„g  the  acp.isition  of  CanaA,  and  Cm 
.s.ng  an  „„,,,;       ,„t„,.j„i^^  ^^  ^^^^  Konnebe       "'l  am 

snre,"  wrote  tlio  chief,  "yon  will  net  let  n„v  ^imu- 
i„„,,,.„.,i,i„    .  '    •'   ,    ""  '"'  '0'  any  difliculties,  not 

insiipeiable,  damp  your  ardor;  peiwverancc  and  spirit  havn 
done  wonders  in  all  ages.  Yon  will  therefore,  byle  reta™ 
of  tins  messenger,  infonn  me  of  your  ultinnate  eilntbn    "o 

se^r:^:rjh!:ir''' """-'" ''*^'^'" 

*cl,n.,lei  lluit  he  should  probably  reach  tit.  John's  on  the  first 
%  of  feepten,ber.  Schuyler  sent  back  no  reply,  «"oriu^ 
nlontyonr  ordei-s,"  pu,^„ed  Montgon.ery,  " /do  not  1  k^ 

tor,  ,f  he  g,.t8  Ins  ve.,sels  into  the  lake,  it  is  over  with  us  for 

ioi,  cd  I  .^™-    f "  ""  ^'""■•''  "f  Scpteu.ber  he  w,u, 

jonicd  at  Isle  La  Motte  by  Schuyler,  and  they  proceeded  to 


I 

i 


ft 


?  f 


I      H 


1 

1 

1 

^■1 

tl 

- 

Mm 

'li  i!  ^ 

ft-,    i  ■ 

■I    r     '^ 

)■   lil 


:    M 


45!    ' 


294         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  3ELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. :  on.  SIX. 


Lsle-aux-Noix.     The  next  day  a  declaration  of  friendship  was 
dispersed  among  the  inhabitants.    On  the  sixth,  Sclmyler,  with 
forces  not  exceeding  a  thonsand,  marched  toward  St.  John's. 
In  crossing  a  crcelc,  the  left  of  the  advanced  line  was  attacked 
by  a  party  of  Indians ;  bnt,  being  promptly  supported  by  Mont- 
gomery, it  beat  off  the  assailants,  yet  with  a  loss  of  nine  subal- 
terns and  privates.     The  next  day,  acting  on  false  information, 
Schuyler  led  back  the  troops  unmolested  to  the  Isle-aux-Xoix. 
From  that  station  he  wrote  to  congress  that  he  should  retire, 
unless  he  should  "receive  their  orders  to  the  contrary."     He 
further  announced  to  them  that  in  health  he  was  "  so  low  as 
not  to  be  able  to  hold  the  pen ; "  and,  being  put  to  bed  in  a 
covered  boat,  he  withdrew  from  the  conduct  of  the  campaign. 
His  letter  was  the  occasion  of  "  a  large  controversy '-  in 
congress ;  the  proposal  to  abandon  Isle-aux-Noix  was  severely 
disapproved,  and  it  was  resolved  to  spare  neither  men  nor 
money  for  his  army.     If  the  Canadians  would  remain  neuter, 
no  doubt  was  entertained  of  the  acquisition  of  Canada.    Schuy- 
ler was  encouraged  to  attend  to  his  health,  and  thus  the  com- 
mand of  the  invading  army  fell  to  Montgomery. 

The  gallant  Irishman,  on  the  day  after  Schuyler  left  Islo- 
aux-Noix,  began  the  investment  of  the  well-provisioned  citadel 
of  St.  John's.  The  Indians  kept  quiet,  and  the  zealous  efforts 
of  the  governor,  the  clergy,  and  the  French  nobiHty  had  hardly 
added  a  hundred  men  to  the  garrison.  Carleton  thought  him- 
self  abandoned  by  all  the  earth,  and  wrote  to  the  British  com- 
mander-in-chief at  Jioston:  "I  had  hopes  of  holding  out  for 
this  year,  had  the  savages  remained  firm ;  but  now  we  are  on 
the  eve  of  being  overrun  and  subdued." 

On  the  morning  after  Montgomery's  arrival  near  St.  John's 
he  marched  five  hundred  men  to  the  north  of  the  fortress, 
where  he  stationed  them  to  cut  off  its  connections.  A  sally 
from  the  fortress  was  beaten  off,  and  the  American  detachment 
was  successfully  established  at  the  divergence  of  the  roads  to 
Chambly  and  ]\rontreal.  Additions  to  his  force  and  supplies 
of  food  were  continually  arriving  through  the  indefatigable  at- 
tention  of  Schuyler;  and,  though  the  siege  flagged  for  the 
want  of  powder,  the  investment  was  soon  made  so  close  that 
the  retreat  of  the  garrison  was  impossible. 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CANADA. 


295 


Ethan  Allen  had  been  sent  to  Cliambly  to  raise  a  corps  of 
Canadians.  They  gathered  round  him  with  spirit,  and  his 
officers  advised  him  to  lead  them  without  delay  to  the  army ; 
but,  with  boundless  rashness,  he  indulged  himself  in  a  vision 
of  surprising  Montreal  as  he  had  surprised  Ticonderoga.  In 
the  night  precedhig  the  twenty-fifth  of  September  he  passed 
over  from  Longueil  t<j  Long  Point  with  about  eighty  Canadi- 
ans and  thirty  Americans,  though  he  had  so  few  canoes  that 
but  a  third  of  his  party  could  embark  at  once.  About  two 
hours  after  sunrise  he  was  attacked  by  a  mixed  party  of  regu- 
lars, English  residents  of  Montreal,  Canadians,  and  Indians, 
in  all  about  five  hundred  men,  and,  after  a  defence  of  an  hour 
and  three  quarters,  he  surrendered  himself  and  thirty-eight 
men;  the  rest  fled  to  the  woods.  The  wounded  prisoners, 
seven  in  number,  entered  the  hospital ;  the  rest  were  shackled 
together  in  pairs,  and  distributed  among  different  transports 
in  the  river.  Allen,  the  captor  of '  Ticonderoga,  was  chained 
with  heavy  leg-iions  and  shipped  to  England,  where  he  M-as 
imjirisoned  in  Pendennis  castle. 

The  issue  of  this  adventure  daunted  the  Canadians  for  a 
momeut;  but  difliculties  only  brought  out  the  resources  of 
Montgomery.     Of  the  field  officers,  he  esteemed  Brown  above 
others  for  his  ability ;  Macpherson,  his  aide-de-camp,  a  very 
young  man,  of  good  sense  and  rare  endowments,  was  univer- 
sally beloved ;  in  John  Lamb,  captain  of  a  Xew  York  com- 
pany of  artillery,  he  found  "  a  restless  genius,  brave,  active,  and 
iutelligent,  but  very  turbulent  and  troublesome."    "The  troops 
carried  the  spirit  of  freedom  into  the  field,  and  thought  for 
themselves."      lie  wrote  homo :  "  The  master  of  Ilindostan 
could  not  recompense  me  for  this  summer's  work,  where  no 
credit  can  be  obtained.     O  fortunate  husl)andmen,  would  I 
were  at  my  plough  again !  "  Yet,  amid  all  his  vexations,  he  so 
won  the  afi'ection  of  his  army  that  every  sick  soldier,  officer, 
or  deserter,  that  passed  home,  agreed  in  praising  him  wlier- 
ever  they  stopped,  so  that  his  reputation  rose  throughout  the 
country. 

Anxious  to  relieve  St.  John's,  Carleton,  after  the  capture 
of  Allen,  succeeded  in  assembling  about  nine  hundred  Cana- 
dians at  Montreal ;  but  the  inhabitants  generally  favored  the 


■ .) 


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i 


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II  1: 


1l 

,E    .1!, 

I'h-"    :,' 

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it 

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IL  ;i'i 

A 

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n 

i' 

.'i 


296         AMERICxi  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


Ep.  III. :  en.  XIX. 


American  cause,  and  they  disappeared  by  fiesertions,  tliirty 
or  forty  of  a  nioht,  till  he  was  left  almost  as  forlorn  as  be- 
fore. The  Indians  ''  were  easily  dejected  and  cliose  to  be  of 
the  strongest  side,  so  that  when  they  were  most  wanted  they 
vanished." 

In  tJiis  state  of   mutual  weakness  the  inhabitants  of  the 
parishes  of  Chambly  turned  the  scale.     lianging  themselves 
under  James  Livingston  of  New  York,  then  a  resident  in 
Canada,  and  assisted  by  Major  Erown,  with  a  small  detachment 
from  Montgomery,  they  sat  down  before  the  fort  in  Chambly 
which,  on  the  eighteenth  of  October,  after  a  siege  of  a  day  and 
a  half,  was  higloriously  surrendt -ed  by  the  English  command- 
ant.    The  colors  of  the  seventh  regiment  were  transuiitted  to 
congress  ;  the  prisoners,  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  in  num- 
ber, were  marched  to  Connecticut ;  but  the  great  gain  to  the 
Americans  Avas  seventeen  cannon  and  six  tons  of  i)owder. 

The  army  of  Montgomery  yielded  more  readily  to  his  guid- 
ance ;  Woostor  of  Connecticut  had  arrived,  and  set  an  example 
of  cheerful  obedience  to  his  orders.     At  the  north-west  a  bat- 
tery was  constructed  on  an  eminence  within  two  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  of  the  fort ;  and  by  the  thirtieth  it  was  in  full  ac- 
tion.   To  raise  the  siege,  Carleton,  having  by  desperate  exertions 
brought  together  about  eight  hundred  Indians,  Canadians,  and 
regulars,  on  the  last  day  of  October  attempted  to  take  them 
across  the  St.  Lawrence ;  but,  as  they  drew  near  the  southern 
bank,  AVarnei-,  with  three  hundred  Green  Mountain  Boys  and 
men  of  the  second  ]S"ew  York  regiment,  poured  on  them  so 
destructive  a  lire  that  they  retired  with  loss  and  in  disorder. 

At  the  ncAvs  of  Carleton's  defeat,  Maclean,  the  command- 
ant of  St.  John's,  deserted  by  the  Canadians  and  losing  all 
hope  of  support,  retired  to  Quebec,  while  the  besiegers  pushed 
on  their  work  with  unceasing  diligence,  keeping  up  a  well- 
directed  lire  by  day  and  uiglit.  On  the  third  of  November, 
after  a  slego^  of  fifty  days,  the  fort  of  St.  John's  surrendered; 
and  its  garrison,  consisting  of  five  hundred  regulai-s  and  one 
hundred  Canadians,  many  of  whom  were  of  the  Fi-ench  gentry, 
marched  out  with  the  honors  of  war. 

On  the  twelfth,  unopposed,  Montgomery  took  possession 
of  Montreal     He  came  to  give  tiie  Canadians  the  opportu- 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CAN.^     \. 


297 


nityof  establisliing  their  freedom  and  reforming  tlicir  laws- 
and  lie  requested  tliem  to  choose,  as  soon  as  possible,  "faith- 
ful  representatives   to   sit   in   the   continental   congress,  and 
make  a  part  of  that  union."     He  earnestly  urged  Schuyler  to 
pass  the  winter  in  the  chief  town  of  upper  Canada.    "I  have 
courted  fortune,"  he  wrote  to  his  brother-in-law, "  and  found 
her  kind      I  have  one  more  favor  to  solicit,  and  then  I  have 
done       Men,  money,  and  artillery  were  wanting ;  in  the  face 
Ox  a  Canadian  winter,  he  nevertheless  resolved  to  form  a  iunc- 
tion  with  the  regiments  sent  through  the  wilderness  bv  Wash- 
nigton,  and  attempt  the  liberation  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
province  through  the  co-operation  alike  of  its  French  and  Eno-- 
hsh  inhabitants.     The  attempt  must  be  made  before  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  ice  in  the  river,  when  the  arrival  of  British 
reinforcements  from  Europe  would  render  success  impossible. 
Ihe  invasion  of  Canada  by  the  Americans  was  the  natural 
result  of  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga.     It  was  not  in  its  origin 
tiie  delil)erate  purpose  of  congress.    An  attack  on  the  northern 
border  ot  Is^ew  York  was  formally  threatened  from  Canada, 
and   the  o])inion  prevailed  that  it  could  be  best  resisted  by 
meeting  it  in  tlie  land  of  tlie  enemy.     Washington  had  put 
aside  every  private  suggestion  to  d>.-ide  his  strength;  nor  could 
he  be  tenipted  even  to  take  part  in  an  expedition  against  Nov^ 
fecotia.     But  as  war  raged  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  his  duty  a^ 
commander-in-chief  rcTaired  that  ho  should  promote  its  suc- 
cess ;  and  being  informed  of  the  possibility  of  reaching  Quebec 
by  and,  he  was  led  to  take  the  chances  of  surimsing  its  citadel 
by  the  aid  of  the  Canadians  themselves.     In  this  wise  it  came 
about  that  he  organized  an  expedition  to  the  lower  St.  Law- 
rence,    lor  Its  chief  officer  he  selected  Benedict  Arnold,  who 
liad  taken  part  in  the  surprise  of  Ticonderoga,  and  who  in 
former  days  as  a  trader  had  visited  Quebec,  where  he  still  kept 
up  a  correspondence. 

The  detachment  from  the  army  round  Boston  consisted  of 
ten  coinpanies  of  ^^ew  England  infantry,  one  of  riiiemen  from 
Virginia,  and  two  from  Pennsylvania:  in  all,  two  battalions  of 
about  eleven  liundred  men. 

The  lieutenant-colonels  w.n-o  Eoger  Enos  and  the  brave 
Christopher  Greene  of  Ehode  Island.     The  majors  were  Re- 


Rtji 


■'     f; 


t\: 


I    .1! 


I         H 


i.  I  I 


■     I 


298        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.     EP.ni.;  on.xix. 

turn  J.  ]\rcis«  of  Connecticut,  and  Tiinotliy  Ei-elow,  the  early 
patriot  of  Wcrcestor,  Massaclm.setts.  Daniel  Mor^^an  with 
llinnplireys  and  Ileth,  led  tlie  Vii-ginia  riHemen ;  Hendricks, 
aPennsjlvania  company;  Thayer  commanded  one  fromlihode 
Island,  and,  like  Arnold,  ]\reigs,  Dearhorn,  Henry,  Senter,  and 
JVlelvm,  left  a  journal  of  the  expedition.  Aaron  Burr,  then 
but  nineteen  years  old,  and  his  fi-iend  Matthias  Ogden,  carry- 
ing muskets  and  knai)sacks,  joined  as  volunteers.  Samuel 
Spnng  attended  as  chaplain. 

The  instructions  given  to  Arnold  had  for  their  motive  af- 
fectionate  co-operation  with  the   Canadians.     They  enioined 
respect  for  the  rights  of  property  and  the  freedom  of  con- 
science, "ever  considering  that  (Jod  alone  is  the  jud-e  of  the 
hearts  of  men,  and   to  him  only  in  this  case  they  ai^^  answer- 
able  _    -  Should  Chatham's  son  fall  into  your  power,"  wrote 
Was  imgton,  "you  cannot  pay  too  much  honor  to  the  son  of 
so  illustrious  a  character,  and  so  true  a  friend  to  America  " 
Chatham,  from  his  fixed  opinion  of  the  war,  desired  to  with- 
draw his  son  from  the  service ;  ..id  Carleton,  anticipating  that 
wish,  had  already  sent  him  home  as  bearer  of  despatches.     To 
the  Canadians  Wasliington's  words  were :  "  The  cause  of  Amer- 
ica and  of  liberty  is  the  cause  of  every  American  whatever 
may  be  his  religion  or  his  descent.     Come,  then,  range  your- 
selves under  the  standard  of  general  liberty." 

Boats  and  provisions  having  been  collected,  the  detach- 
ment, on  the  evening  of  the  nineteenth  of  September,  sailed 
from  Newburyport,  and  the  next  morning  entered  the  Ken- 
nebec.    Passing  above  the  bay  where  that  river  is  met  by  the 
Androscoggin,  they  halted  at  Fort  Western,  which  consisted 
of  two  block-houses,  and  one  large  house,  enclosed  Avith  pick- 
ets, hard  by  the  oast  l,ank  of  the  nver,  on  the  site  of  Augusta. 
ihe  detachment  followed  in  four  divisions,  in  as  many  succcs- 
sive  days.     Each  division  took  provisions  for  forty-five  days 
On  the  tweiity-fiftli,  Morgan  and  the  riflemen  were  sent  first 
to  clear  the  path;  Greene  and  Bigelow  followed  with  three 
compairos  of  musketeers;   Meigs  with  four  more  went  next: 
J^nos  with  three  companies  closed  the  rear. 

They  ascended  the  river  slowly  to  Fort  Halifax,  opposite 


Waterville;  daily  to  their  waists  in  water,  hauling' tl 


leir 


boats 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CANADA. 


299 


then 


against  a  very  rajjid  current.     On  the  fourtli  of  October  they 
passed  the  vestiges  of  an  Indian  chapel,  a  fort,  and  tlie  grave 
of  the  missionary  Rasles.    After  they  took  leave  of  settlements 
and  houses  at  Norridgewock,  their  course  lay  up  the  swift  Ken- 
nebec, which  flowed  through  the  thickly  forested  and  ah-ost 
trackless  wild;  now  rowing,  now  dragging  their  boats,  now 
bearing  them  on  their  shoulders  round  rapids  and  cataracts, 
across  morasses,  over  craggy  highlands.     On  the  tenth  the 
party  reached  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  Kennebec  and 
Dead  river.     An  advance  party  of  seven  men  marked  the 
shortest  carrying-jilace  from  the  Kennebec  to  the  Dead  river 
by  snagging  the   bushes  and  blazing  the   trees.     Their,  way 
stretched  through  forests  of  pine,  balsam  lir,  cedar,  cypress, 
hemlock,  and  yellow  birch,  and  over  three  ponds,  that  lay  hid 
among  the  trees  and  were  full  of  trout.     After  passing  them, 
they  had  no  choice  but  to  carry  their  boats,  baggage^  stores' 
and  ammunition  across  a  swara]>,  which  was  overgrown  Avith 
bushes  and  white  moss,  often  sinking  knee  deep  in  the  wet 
turf.     From  Dead  river,  Arnold  on  the  thirteenth  wrote  to 
the  commander  of  the  northern  army,  announcing  his  plan  of 
co-operation.    Of  his  friends  in  Quebec  he  inquired  what  ships 
were  there,  what  number  of  troops,  and  what  was  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  Canadians  and  merchants;  and  he  rashly  made  an 
Indian  the  bearer  of  his  letters. 

Following  the  Dead  river  eighty-three  miles,  encountering 
near  its  source  a  series  of  small  ponds  choked  with  fallen  trees, 
and  afterward  seventeen  portages,  in  ten  or  twelve  days  more 
the  main  body  arrived  at  the  great  carrying-place  to  the  Chau- 
diere.  On  the  way  they  heard  that  Enos,  who  commanded  the 
rear,  had,  without  any  justification  from  his  orders,  led  back  his 
three  companies  to  Cambridge. 

The  mountains  had  been  clad  in  snow  since  September ; 
winter  was  howling  around  them,  and  their  course  was  still  to 
the  north.  On  the  night  preceding  the  twenty-eighth  of  Oc- 
tober some  of  the  party  encamped  on  the  summits  from  which 
the  waters  flow  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  As  they  advanced,  their 
sufferings  increased.  Some  went  barefoot  for  i,  ,s  .ogether. 
Their  path  was  shagged  with  thorns;  their  clothes  had  lieeo.jie 
so  torn  they  were  almost  naked  ;  at  night  they  had  no  couch 


;      -    If 


i:f  m 


;*   I 


liii  i  I  i*y 


■  u 


lilh 


300         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  i„. ;  en.  xix. 

Z^Z  '"'*,  !"T'^'"'  '^  evergreens.     Often  for  suceessive 
lays  and  n,gl,ts  tliey  were  exposed  to  drencl.ing  storms,  and 
iiad  to_ cross  torrents  that  were  swelling  with  the  rain      Their 
provisions  failed,  so  that  they  even  eat  the  dogs  that  followed 
t.  ^.m.     Many  ,  man,  struggling  to  march  on,  stiffened  with 
c    d  and  death.     Here  and  there  a  helpless  invalid  was  left 
btluul,  with  perhaps  a  soldier  to  hunt  for  a  red  scpMrrol,  a  jay 
or  a  hawk,  or  gather  roots  and  plants  for  his  food,  and  watch 
L  s  expinng    reath.     On  Dead  river,  Macleland,  th'e  lieutenant 
oOI  ndrickss  company,  was  suffering  from  inflammation  of 
the  lungs ;  his  friends  tenderly  carried  him  on  a  litter  across 

ttbrrf"'  "^'"'"^'^  ^^ '''  *"^-^  1^""-^'  i-.ho:id::to 

woW  '  ^'-'n^J^'^d^  hauled  their  barge  up  stream  nearly  all  the 
way  for  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  had  carried  t^.l.  ,,ear- 
ly  forty  miles,  through   hideous  woods  and  mountains,"  over 

rSh  T  "      /''^  """  '''''^''  ''  ™  *^-^  -  f-r  time 
fhet    offi  7^"^"'   ^'''  ''''""^^'  ^"^  ^^'^th  uncertainty 

ahead,  ofhcers  and  men  pushed  on  with  invincil.le  fortitude 

tho  ri      i-""  ^T  ''^'"''''  *^  ^'^^"^"'^  the  rocky  channel  of 
the  Chaudiere,  three  of  their  boats,  laden  with  ammunition 
and  precious  stores,  which  had  been  brought  along  with  so 
much  tod  were  overset  in  the  whirls  of  th^  stream.^  On  the 
ocond  of  Noveml>er,  French  Canadians  came  up  with   two 
horses  dnvn.g  befoi-e  them  five  oxen,  at  which  thi  party  fi  Id 
a  salute,  and  laughed  with  frantic  delight.     On  the  fouith 
about  an  hour  before  noon,  they  descrfed  a  house  at  Sertt 
gan,  twenty-hve  leagues  from  Quebec,  near  the  fork  of  the 
Chaudiere  and  the  Bu  Loup.     It  wa.  the  first  they  had  seen 

helds  or    lounshing  cities  awaken  such  ecstasy  of  gladness  as 
tins  rude  hovel  on  the  edge  of  the  wilderness.  ^lade    nd  wa 
brough   down  to  its  shelter,  though  he  breathed  his  fare.'l  to 
the  world  the  day  after  his  arrival. 

The  party  followed  the  winding  river  to  the  parish  of  St 
Mary  straggling  through  a  flat  and  rich  comitry  which  had 
for  Its  ornament  low,  bright,  whitewashed  houses,  the  com- 
fortabb  abodes  of  a  cheerful  and  hospitable  people.  Here 
and  there  along  the  road  ch.pels  met    heir  ey L,    nd  im  g  ! 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF   CANADA. 


801 


of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  rude   imitations  of  tlie   Saviour's 
sorrows. 

By  tiic  lal)or  of  seven  weeks,  Cramalie,  tl.o  lioutenant-<rov- 
emor,  had  put  tlie  walls  of  (^nebec  into  a  good  posture  for 
defence.  Coinnuniications,  intrusted  by  Arnold  to  friendly 
Indians,  had  been,  in  part  at  least,  intercepted.  A  vessel  from 
Newfoundland  had  brought  a  hundred  carpenters.  Colonel 
Allan  Maclean  arrived  on  the  twelfth  with  a  hundred  and 
seventy  inen,  levied  chiefly  among  disbanded  Highlanders  who 
had  settled  in  Canada.  The  Lizard  and  the  Hunter,  ships-of- 
war,  wereiu  the  harbor;  and  the  masters  of  merchant  ships 
with  their  men  were  detained  for  the  defence  of  the  town. 

At  nine  in  the  evening  of  tiie  thirteenth  Arnold  began  his 
end)arkation  in  canoes,  which  were  but  thirty  in  number,  and 
carried  less  than  two  hundred  at  a  time ;  by  crossing  the  rixer 
three  times,  before  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  f ourtc .  nth 
allof  his  party,  except  about  one  hundred   and  lifty  left  at 
Point  Levi,  were  landed  undiscovered  at  Wolfe's  Cove.     The 
Hvo  hundred  half-armed  musketeers  met  no  resistance  as  they 
chmbed  the  oWique  path  to  the  Plains  of  Abraham.     "  The 
enemy  being  apprised  of  their  coming,"  Arnold  "found  it  im- 
practicable to  attack  them  without   too  great  risk."     In  the 
evening  he  sent  a  flag  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  place. 
The  British  would  not  receive  the  flag,  and  would  not  come 
out.     The   invaders   had  no  chan  e  of  success,  except   their 
friends  within  the  walls  should  rise ;  and  of  this  there  were  no 
signs.    As  the  result,  their  ammunition  being  reduced  to  but 
five  rounds  to  each  man,  on  the  nineteenth  Arnold  withdrew 
his  party  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  eight  leagues  above  Quebec, 
where  they  awaited  the  orders  of  Montgomery. 

The  St.  Lawrence,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel,  was  guarded 
by  continental  troops  under  Easton.  In  the  darkest  hour  of 
the  night  folloAving  the  sixteenth  of  November,  Carleton,  dis- 
guised as  a  peasant,  passed  them  in  a  small  boat.  On  the  next 
day  Prescott,  the  British  brigadier,  from  sheer  cowardice,  sur- 
rendered the  flotilla  of  eleven  sail,  with  all  the  soldiers,  sailors, 
and  stores  on  board,  without  a  blow  given  or  received.  Touch- 
nig  as  a  fugitive  at  Trois  Rivieres,  Carleton  arrived  on  the 
nineteenth  at  Quebec.    He  had  witnessed  how  much  of  the 


;    I  i 


f         V- 


I'f 


111 


302        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ep.  m. ;  en.  xix. 

success  of  Wolfe  ],ad  been  d.ic  to  the  rashness  of  Montcalm  in 
risking  a  l,attle  outside  of  the  walk    His  caution  and  his  finn- 

defenlcd!  ^""''"*'''  *''''  '^'"  ^'^'''  ''""^^  ^'  pertinaciously 
The  progress  of  Montgomery  had  emboldened  a  party  in 
Quebec  to  confess  a  willingness  to  receive  him  on  tenns  of 
capitulation.  But.  on  the  twenty-second,  Carlet.m  ordered  all 
persons  wlu)_  would  not  join  in  the  defence  of  the  town  to 

eave  it  within  four  days;  and  after  their  departure  he  found 
hnnself  supported  by  more  than  three  hundred  regulars,  three 
ttvltr;  T  >'^-^^-->-n  militia,  five  hundred  and 
loi  tj -three  Irench  Canadians,  four  hundred  and  eightv-five 
seamen  and  marines,  beside  a  hundred  and  twenty  artificers 
capable  of  bearing  arms.  "^      uullis 

After  Montreal  was  taken  and  winter  was  come,  Monfo-om- 
cry  was  left  with  no  more  than  eight  hundred  men  to  ga  ri  oi. 
us  conquests,  and  to  go  down  against  Quebec.     Even  most  o 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  had  gone  homo 

On  the  twenty-sixth,  leaving  St.  John's   under  the  com- 
mand of  Marinus  Willett  of  New  York,  intrusting  the  gov- 
ernment of  Montreal  to  booster  of  Connecticut,  ^nd  in^e 
8pmt  of  a  law-giver  who  was  to  regenerate  the  province,  makin.. 
a  declaration  that  on  his  return  he  would  call  a  convention  of 
the  Canadian  people,  Montgomery,  with  artillery  and  provi- 
sions, embarked  three  hundred  men,  and  on  the  thii-d  of  Decern 
ber  made  a  junction  with  Arnold.     "  The  famine-proof  veter- 
ans    now  but  six  hundred  and  seventy.five  in  number,  were 
paiaded,  to  hear  their  praises  from  the  lips  of  the  hero  who 
maiuii^ting  words,  dicl  justice  to  their  courage  and  superioi' 
Btjle   of  discipline.     From   the  public  stores   which   he   had 
ta   m  they  received  clothing  suited  to  the  terrible  climate  • 
and  about  noon  on  the  fifth  the  army,  composed  of  less  than  a 

tuo  hundijd  Canadians,  appeared  before  Quebec,  which  had  a 
garrison  o  nearly  twice  their  number,  more  than  two  hundred 
cannon  of  heavy  metal,  and  provisions  for  eight  months.  There 
cou  d  therefore  be  no  hope  of  its  capture  but  by  storm,  and, 
a.  the  engagements  of  the  New  England  men  ended  witli  th^ 
thiitj -first  of  December,  the  assault  must  be   made  within 


1775. 


ANNEXATION    OF  CANADA. 


303 


twenty-six  days.  IVEontgoniery  grieved  for  the  less  of  life  that 
might  ensue,  but  his  decision  was  jn-onipt  and  uuciuuigino-. 
Ihe  works  of  the  hjwer  town  were  the  weakest;  these  ho 
tJiouglit  It  possible  to  carry,  and  then  the  favor  of  the  inhabi- 
tants  m  the  upper  town,  their  concern  for  their  property  the 
umvarhke  character  of  tlie  garrison,  the  small  niilitary  abUity 
ot  Carleton,  offered  chances  of  success. 

M(jntgoniery  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  city  ;  but  his 
ilag  of  truce  was  not  admitted  ;  and  every  ellort  at  corres.wud- 
ence  with  the  citizens  failed. 

Four  or  iive  mortars  were  placed  in  St.  Roc's,  but  the 
small  shells  which  they  threw  did  no  essential  injury  to  the 
garrison.  A  battery  was  begun  about  seven  hundred  yards 
south-west  (.f  St.  John's  gate;  as  the  ground  was  frozen,  the 
gabions  and  the  interstices  of  the  fascines  were  iilled  with 
snow;  and  on  this  water  was  poured,  which  froze  instantly  in 
the  intense  cold.  On  the  fifteenth,  the  day  after  the  work  was 
linishcd,  a  flag  of  truce  was  again  sent  toward  the  wall,  but  the 
governor  would '-hold  no  parley  with  rebels."  Montgomery 
knew  that  (Carleton  could  not  be  provoked  into  making  a  sally 
and  would  sooner  be  buried  under  heaps  of  ruins  than  come  to 
tenns. 

^'  To  the  storming  we  must  come  at  last,"  said  :\rontgomery 
On  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth,  at  a  council  of  the  commis- 
sioned officers  of  Arnold's  detachment,  a  large  majority  voted 
for  making  an  assault  as  soon  as  the  men  could  be  provided 
with  bayonets,  hatchets,  and  hand-grenades.     "In  case  of  suc- 
cess," JVIontgomery  promised  to  the  soldiery  "the  effects  of 
those  who  had  been  most  active  against  the  united  colonies.^' 
Days  of  preparation   ensued,  during  which  he  revolved  his 
desperate  situation.     His  rapid  coiupiests  had  filled  the  world 
with  his  ])raise ;  the  colonies  held  nothing  impossible  to  his 
good  conduct  and  fortune;  he  had  received  the  order  of  con- 
gress to  hold  (^lebec,  if  it  should  come  into  his  hands ;  and 
Howe  never  doubted  of  its  surrender.      Should   Quebec  be 
taken,  the  Canndians  would  enter  heartily  into  the  union  and 
send  their  de].utie3  to  congress.     "  Fortune,"  said  Montgom- 
ery, "favors  the  brave;  and  no  fatal  consequences  are  likelv 
to  attend  a  failure."  *^ 


r  j! 


■i 


301        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ep.  m. ;  cii.  x,x. 

One  day  tlie  general,  accompanied  by  liis  aide-de-camp 

Mac])l.erson,  went  out  to  meditate  on  "tl.e  spot  where  Wolfe 

lad  tallen,  fightiTig  for  England  in  friendship  mth  America  " 

nv  had  lost  the  am1)ition  which  once  sweetened  a  military 

ife,  and  a  sense  o    duty  was  now  his  only  spring  of  action;  if 

he  Americans  sho.dd  continue  to  prosper,  he  wished  to  return 

to  the  retired  hie  in  which  he  alone  fo.md  delight;  but,  said 

le     should  the  scene  change,  I  shall  be  always  ready  to  con- 

nbiite  to  the  public  safety."     And  his  h.st  message  to  his 

brotheiMu-law   >vas:    "Adieu,   my  dear    Kobert;    inay    your 

Jiappy  talents  ever  be  directed  to  the  good  of  mankind  " 

A,.     n*''r  l"r'  ^'i  *^''  ''''^'  ^''''  ^^^^'"•'  ^l"*^*^  ^'^H>tain8  in 
Arnold  s  battalion  showed  mutinous  disaifection.    In  the  even- 
ing of  the  twenry-third,  Montgomery  repaired  to  their  quar- 
ters, and  in  few  words  gave  them  leave  to  stand  aside;  "he 
wou  d  compel  none ;  he  wanted  witli  him  no  persons  who 
went  with  reluctance."    His  words  recalled  the  officers  to  their 
duty,  but  the  incident  hurried  him  into  a  resolution  to  attempt 
g|uning  Quebec  before  the  first  of  January.     At  sundown  of 
Christmas  he  reviewed  Arnold's  battalion  at  Morgan's  quarters, 
and  addressed  them  with  spirit;  after  which  a  council  of  wai' 
agreed  uj^on  a  night  attack  on  the  lower  to^v^l.     Their  inten- 
tion  was  revealed  by  a  deserter,  so  that  every  preparation  was 
made  against  a  surprise  ;  two  thirds  of  the  garrison  lay  on  their 
arnis;_in  tlie  upper  town,  (^u-leton  and  others  not  on  duty 
slept  m  their  clothes ;   in  the  lower,  volunteer  pickets  kept 
watch ;  and  they  all  wished  ardently  that  the  adventurous  .^- 

temj^t  might  not  be  delayed. 

The  night  of  the  twenty-sixth  was  clear,  and  so  cold  tliatno 

man  could  handle  h.s  arms  or  scale  a  Avail.    The  evening  of  the 
wenty-seventh  was  hazy,  and  the  troops  were  put  i,i  motion  ; 

but,  as  the  sky  soon  cleared  up,  the  general,  who  was  tender  of 

tlieirhves,  called  them  back,  choosing  to  M-ait  for  the  shelter 

ot  clouds  and  darkness. 

_  Vov  the  next  days  the  air  was  serene,  and  a  mild  M'esterly 
wind  bi-,ghtened  the  sky.  On  the  fhirtieth  a  snow-storm  froin 
the  north-east  set  in.  But  a  few  hours  more  of  the  old  year 
remamed,  ard  with  it  the  engagement  of  many  of  his  troops 
would  expire.     Orders  were  therefore  given  for  the  troops  to 


1775. 


ANNEXATION"  OF  CANADA. 


305 


be  ready  at  two  o'clock  of  tlie  ioWowiucr  morning;  and  tliit 
tliey  nii-lit  recognise  one  another,  each  soldier  wore  in  his  cap 
a  piece  of  white  paper,  on  wliich  some  of  them  ^vrote  :  "  Lm- 

EKTV  OR  DEATH. " 

Colonel  James  Livingston,  with  less  than  two  hundred 
Canadians,  was  to  attract  attention  by  appearing  before  St 
John's  gate,  on  the  south-west ;  while  a  company  of  Americans 
•  under  Brown  were  to  feign  a  movement  on  Cape  Diamond 
where  the  wall  faces  south  by  west,  and  from  that  hi-] i  ground' 
at  the  proper  time,  were  to  lire  rockets,  as  the  signal  for  be- 
ginning the  real  attacks  on  the  lower  town,  under  Arnold  from 
the  west  and  north,  under  Montgomery  from  the  south  and 
east.  If  successful,  both  would  meet  in  Mountain  street,  near 
Prescot  gate. 

The  general,  who  reserved  for  his  own  party  less  tiian 
three  hundred  Yorkers,  led  them  in  Indian  tile  from  head-quar- 
ters at  Holland  House  to  AV^olfe's  Cove,  and  then  about  two 
miles  farther  along  the  shore.  In  several  places  they  were 
obliged  to  scramble  up  slant  rocks  covered  with  two  feet  of 
snow,  and  then,  with  a  precipice  on  their  right,  to  slide  down 
hfteen  or  twenty  feet.  The  wind,  which  was  at  east  by  north 
blew  furiously  in  their  faces,  with  cutting  hail,  which  the  eye 
could  not  endure  ;  their  constant  step  wore  the  frozen  snow 
into  little  lumps  of  ice,  so  that  the  men  were  fatigued  by 
struggles  not  to  fall,  and  could  not  keep  their  arms  dry. 

The  signal  from  Cape  Diamond  being  given  more  than 
half  an  hour  too  soon,  the  general,  with  his  aides-de-ciunp, 
Macpherson  and  Burr,  ]uished  on  with  the  front,  coini)osed  of 
Cheesman's  company  and  Mott's ;  and  more  than  half  an  hour 
before  day  they  arrived  at  the  first  barrier,  with  tlie  guides  and 
carpenters.  The  rest  of  the  party  lagged  behind  ;  and  the  lad- 
ders were  not  M-ithin  half  a  mile.  IMontgomery  and  Cheesman 
were  the  hrst  that  ente.'cd  the  undefended  balTier,  passing  on 
between  the  rock  and  the  pickets  which  the  carpenters  bea'an 
to  saw  and  wrench  away.  While  a  message  was  sent  back  to 
hurry  up  the  troops,  Montgomery  went  forward  to  observe  the 
path  before  him.  It  wii.s  a  very  narrow  defile,  falling  away  to 
the  river  precij)itously  on  the  one  side,  and  shut  in  by'tl.o 
scarped  rock  and  overhanging  cliU  on  the  other,  so  that  not 


m 


't! 


VOL.    IV.— 20 


]J 


)    . 


li:  ,  i  J 


ii    i[r. 


:*( 


t 


300         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DKFKXCE.    ep.  iii. ;  en.  xix. 

more  than  five  or  six  persons  could  walk  abreast ;  a  Iiouse, 
biiilt  of  logs  and  extending  on  the  south  nearly  to  the  river' 
with  loopholes  for  musketry  and  a  battery  of  two  three-pouud- 
ers,  intercepted  the  passage.    It  was  held  by  a  party  consisting 
of  thirty  Canadians  and  eight  Jiritish  militia  men  under  John 
Coffin,  with  nine  seamen  as  camioneers  under  Barnsfare,  the 
master   of  a  transport.     Tlie  general   listened,  and  heard  no 
sound  ;  but  lights  from  lanterns  on  tlie  Plains  of  Abraham,  as  * 
well  as  the  signal  rockets,  had  given  the  alarm ;  and  in  the 
mornhig  twilight,  through  the  storm,  his  troops  were  seen  in 
full  march  from  Wolfe's  Cove.     At  their  approach  to  the  bar- 
rier Avhere  Coffin  connnanded,  the  sailors  stood  at  their  rnms 
with  lighted  linstocks. 

Montgomery  waited  till  about  sixty  men  had  joined  him 
mside  of  the  row  of  pickets  ;  then  exclaiming,  "  Men  of  New 
York,  you  will  not  fear  to  follow  where  your  general  leads  • 
push  on,  brave  boys!  Que])ec  is  ours  !  "  he  pressed  forward  at 
double  quick  time  to  carry  the  battery.     As  he  appeared  on 
a  little  rising  in  the  ground,  at  a  distance  of  fifty  yards  or  less 
from  the  mouths  of  the  cannon,  which  were  loaded  with  grape- 
shot,   Barnsfare   discharged  them  with  deadly  aim.      Aaron 
Burr,  who  showed  personal  bravery  and  good  conduct,  escaped 
unhurt ;  Montgomery,  his  aid  ]\lacpherson,  tlie  young  and  gal- 
lant Cheesman,  and  ten  others  fell  dea.l ;  ]\rontgomery  from 
three   wounds.     With   him   the  soul  of  the  expedition   fied. 
Donald  Campbell,  who  assumed  the  command  of  the;  Yorkers 
seeing  no  chance  of  success,  ordered  an  immediate  retreat' 
which  was  effected  without  fui-ther  loss.  ' 

On  the  north-western  side  of  the  lower  to%\Ti  Arnold  led 
twice  as  many  troops  as  f(dlow(;d  ]\r()ntg()mery.  The  path 
along  the  St.  Charles  had  been  narrowed  by  masses  of  ice 
thrown  up  from  the  river ;  and  the  l)attery  by  which  it  was 
commanded  might  have  i-aked  every  inch  of'  it  with  grape- 
shot,  while  their  flank  was  exp.)sed  to  musketry  from  the 
walls.  As  they  reached  Palace  gate,  tlie  bells  of  the  city  were 
rung,  tlie  drums  beat  a  general  alarm,  and  the  cannon  began  to 
play.  The  Americans  ran  along  in  single  lile,  holding '"down 
their  heads  on  account  of  the  storm,  and  covering  their  guns 
with  their  coats.     Lamb  and  his  company  of  artillery  followed 


^. 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CANADA. 


307 

With  a  field-piece  on  a  sled;  the  field-piece    ,as  soon  aban- 
doned, but  he  and  his  men  took  part  in  the  assault 

The  first  barricade  M-as  at  the  Sault  au  Matelot,  a  jutting 
rock  which  left  little  space  between  the  river  beach  and  the 
precipice.     Xear  this  spot  Arnold  was  wounded  in  the  le-  bv 
a  miisket-ball,  and  carried  oil  disabled  ;  but  Morgan's  inen 
who  formed  the  van,  rushed  forward  to  the  port-holes  and  fired 
into  them,  while  others,  Morgan  himself  the  first,  Charles  Por- 
terfield  the  second,  mounted  by  ladders,  carried  the  battery,  and 
took  Its  captain  and  guard  prisoners.     But  Morgan   was  at- 
tended oidy  by  his  oAvn  company  and  a  few  Pennsylvanians. 
It  was  still  very  dark ;  he  had  no  guide,  and  he  knew  nothing 
of  the  defences  of  the  town.     The  faces  of  the  men  were  hoar 
w.th  frost  and  icicles,  their  muskets  useless  in  the  storm.    The 
glow  of  attack  began  to  subside,  and  the  danger  of  their  posi- 
tion to  appear.     They  were  soon  joined  by  Greene,  Bigelow, 
and  Meigs,  so  that  there  were  at  least  two  hundred  Americans 
111   he  town,  who  all  pressed  on  in  the  narrow  way  to  tlie  sec- 
ond barricade  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Sault  au  Matelot 
street,  where  the  defences  extended  from  the  rock  to  the  river 
Lnder  the  directum  of  Greene,  heroic  efforts  were  made  to 
carry  them.    AVith  a  voice  louder  than  the  north-east  gale,  Mor- 
gan cheered  on  his  riflemen ;  but,  though  Heath  and  Porter- 
le  d  and  a  few  others  in  the  front  files  ascended  the  scaling- 
ladders,  It  was  only  to  see  on  the  other  side  rows  of  troops  pre- 
pared to  receive  them  on  hedges  of  bayonets,  if  they  had  leaped 
down.     Here  was  the  greatest  loss  of  life ;  the  assailants  were 
exposed  m  the  narrow  street  to  a  heavy  fire  from  houses  on 
both  sides;    some   of  the  oftiecrs  received  several   balls   in 
their  clothes  ;  others  fell.     The  moment  for  retreat  soon  went 
by.     borne  few  escaped  over  the  shoal  ice  on  the  St.  Charles. 
JNoar  dayhght,  about  two  hundred  of   the   Americans  took 
shelter  m  h..nses  of  stone,  from  winch  they  could  fire.     It  was 


!.1S 


riile,  was  shot  through 


then  that  Hendricks,  while 
the  heart. 

Carleton  could  now  direct  all  his  force  against  the  party 
of  Arnold  Py  his  orders,  Captain  Laws,  with  two  hundred 
men,  salhe<l  from  Palace  gate  in  their  rear ;  Dearborn's  com- 
pany  was  found  divided  into  two  ]xarties,  each  of  which  sue- 


m 


t 


!       !  !     I    ! 


f^l 


f 


if 

J|:|    * 

1 

;■;.     iii 

\k 

ii'i 

W' 

w\i 

J 


308         AMERICA   ARMS   FOR   SELF-DEFENCE,     v.p.  ui. ;  en.  xix. 

cessively  sum'udtMvd,  leaving  "the  flower  of  t]ie  rebel  ariny" 
"cooped  up  "within  the  town.  Morgan  proposed  that  they 
should^  cut  their  way  through  their  enemies ;  but  it  had  be- 
come impracticable;  and,  after  maintaining  the  struggle  till 
the  last  hope  M-as  gone,  at  teii  o'clock  they  gjive  themsdves  up. 
To  the  captives  Carleton  proved  a  humane  and  generous 
enemy.  The  loss  of  tlie  British  was  inconsiderable;  that  of 
the  Americans,  in  killed  or  wounded,  was  about  sixty  ;  in  pris- 
oners, between  three  and  four  hundred. 

When  the  battle  was  over,  thirteen  bodies  were  found  at 
the  place  now  known  as  Pres-de-Ville.     That  of  Cheesman 
whose  career  had  been  brief  but  gallant,  had  fallen  over  the 
rocks       In   the   pathway  lay  Macpherson,  the   pure-minded, 
youthful  enthusiast  for  liberty,  as  spotless  as  the  new-fallen 
snow  which  was  his  M-inding-sheet ;  full  of  promise  for  war, 
lovely  m  temper,  dear  to  the  army,  honored  by  the  ailection 
and  confidence  of  his  chief.     There,  too,  l)y  his  side,  lay  Eich- 
ard  ]\rontgomeiT,  on  the  spot  where  he  fell.     At  his  death  he 
was  in  the  flrst  month  of  his  fortieth  year.     He  was  tall  and 
slender,  well-limbed,  of  a  graceful  address,  and  a  strong  and 
active  frame,     lie  could  endure  fatigue,  and  all  changes  and 
severities  of  climate.     His  judgment  was  cool,  though  he  kin- 
dled in  action,  imi)arting  sympathetic  courage.     Never  negli- 
gent  of  duty,  never  avoiding  danger,  discriminating  and  en- 
ergetic, he  had  the  power  of  conducting  free  meii  by  their 
voluntary  love  and  esteem.     An  experienced  soldier,  he  was 
Avell  versed  in  letters  and  in  natural  sfiience.     In  private  life 
he  was  a  good  husband,  brother,  and  son,  an  amiable  and  faith- 
ful friend.     He  overcame  difficulties  which  others  shumied  to 
encounter.     Foes  and  friends  paid  tribute  to  his  worth.     The 
governor,  lieutenant-governor,  and  council  of  Quebec,  and  all 
the  princijial  officers  of  the  garrison,  buried  him  and  his  aide- 
de-camp,  ]\racpherson,  Avith  the  honors  of  war. 

At  the  news  of  his  death,  "  the  city  of  Philadelphia  was  in 
tears  ;  every  person  seemed  to  have  lost  his  nearest  friend." 
Congress  proclaimed  for  him  "their  grateful  remembrance,  re- 
spect, and  high  veneration ;  and,  desiring  to  transmit  to  future 
ages  a  truly  worthy  example  of  patriotism,  conduct,  boldness 
of  enterprise,  insuperable  perseverance,  and  contempt  of  dan- 


1775. 


ANNEXATION  OF  CANADA. 


309 


ger  and  death,"  they  reared  a  marble  momiment  "  to  the  glory 
of  Ricliard  Montgomery." 

Frederic  of  Prussia  gave  liim  praise  as  a  military  chief.  In 
the  British  parliament  Barre,  his  veteran  fellow-sJldier  in  the 
late  war,  wci)t  profusely  as  he  expatiated  on  their  fast  friend- 
ship and  participation  of  service  in  the  season  of  enterprise  and 
glory,  when  Canada  was  concpiered  for  Britain,  and,  holding 
up  the  British  commanders  in  review,  pronounced  a  glowing 
tribute  to  his  superior  merits.  Edmund  Burke  contrasted  the 
condition  of  the  eight  thousand  men,  starved,  disgraced,  and 
shut  up  within  the  single  town  of  Boston,  with  the  movements 
of  the  hero  avIio  in  one  campaign  had  conrpiered  two  thirds  of 
Canada.  "  I,"  replied  North,  «  cannot  join  in  lamenting  the 
death  of  Montgomery  as  a  public  loss.  Curse  on  his  virtues, 
they've  undone  his  country.  He  was  brave,  he  was  able,  he 
was  humane,  ho  was  generous ;  but  still  he  was  only  a  bravo, 
able,  humane,  and  generous  rebel."  "  The  term  of  rebel,"  re- 
torted Fox,  «'  is  no  certain  mark  of  disgrace.  The  great  assert- 
ors  of^  liberty,  the  saviors  of  their  country,  the  benefactors  of 
mankind  in  all  ages,  have  been  called  rebels.  We  owe  the 
constitution  which  enables  us  to  sit  in  this  house  to  a  rebel- 
Hon." 

So  passed  away  Montgomery,  with  the  love  of  all  that  knew 
him,  the  grief  of  the  rising  republic,  and  the  eulogies  of  the 
world. 


t  ; 


310  AMEPJCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.    EP.m.;cn.xx. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

advancixg  towakd  independence. 

Last  Months  of  1775-Marcii  1776. 

A  STEADY  current  drifted  the  country  toward  a  closer  union 
and  independence.     The  British  governnieut  refused  to  treat 
with  the  general  congress.     The  American  colonies,  if  they 
mean  to  make  their  resistance  effectual,  must  confine  their  in- 
tercourse with  the  British  government  exclusively  to  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  colonies  in  union.     In  Xew  Jersey  the  as- 
sembly granted  the  usual  annual  support  of  the  royal  govern- 
ment, and  then  considered  the  draft  of  a  separate  address  to 
the  king ;  but,  as  that  mode  of  action  tended  to  insulate  the 
provinces,  Dickinson,  Jay,  and  \yytlie  were  sent  by  the  gen- 
eral congress  to  Burlington,  to  dissuade  from  the  measure.    Ad- 
mitted to  the  assembly  on  the  fifth  of  December,  Dickinson 
mv  ted  them  to  wait  and  find  an  answer  in  the  conduct  of  the 
parliament  and  the  administration.     "After  Americans  were 
put  to  death  Without  cause  at  Lexington,"  said  he,  -  had  the 
new  continental  congress  drawn  the  sword  and  thrown  away 
the  scabbard,  all  lovers  of  liberty  would  have  applauded.     To 
convince  P.r, tain  that  we  will  figlit,  an  army  has  been  formed 
and  Canada  invaded.     Success  attends  us  everywhere ;  the  Ca- 
nadians figlit  m  our  cause;  so  that  we  have  nothing  to  fear  but 
from  Europe,  which  is  three  thousand  miles  distant.    Until  this 
conti-oversy,  the  strength  and  importance  of  our  country  were 
no   known  ;  united  it  cannot  be  conrpiered.    Should  Britain  be 
unsuccessfu    in  the  next  campaign,  France  will  not  sit  still. 
Nothmj.  but  unity  and  bravery  will  bring  Britain  to  terms ; 
Bcparate  petitions  we  should  avoid,  for  they  would  break  oui' 


n.i^i 


our 


1775-1770.   ADVANCING  TOWARD  ^XDEPEXDENCE. 


811 


iinion ;  rest,  tlien,  on  yonr  foi-mer  noble  petition,  and  on  tliat 
of  united  America."  "  We  have  notliing  to  expect  from  the 
mercy  or  justice  of  Britain,"  argued  Jay ;  "  vigor  and  unanim- 
ity, not  petitions,  are  our  only  means  of  safety."  AVytlie  of 
Virginia  spoke  to  the  same  purpose;  and  the  well-disposed 
assembly  of  Xew  Jersey  conformed  to  their  advice. 

Under  orders  from  the  New  York  Convention,  Isaac  Sears, 
in  the  night  of  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  removed  cannon 
from  the  battery  of  the  city.  Captain  Yandeput,  of  the  Asia, 
a  British  man-of-war  in  the  harbor  of  the  city,  kept  up  a  heavy 
but  ineffective  tire  on  the  working  \)avty,  who  succeeded  in 
removing  twenty-one  eighteen-pounders  with  their  carriages. 
It  was  feared  that  a  bombardment  would  follow,  and  families 
began  to  retreat  into  the  country. 

Congress,  on  the  sixth  of  October,  nnder  tlie  form  of  a 
general  resolution,  advised  the  arrest  of  Tryon ;  on  the  twenty- 
seventh,  when  his  arrest  was  innnmeut,  he  fled.  From  a  ship- 
of-war  in  the  harbor,  xie  recommended  to  the  inhaoitants  of 
New  York  a  separate  petition.  Their  congress,  on  the  motion 
of  John  Morin  Scott,  rejected  the  thought  of  "a  separate 
declaration,  as  inconsistent  with  the  glorious  plan  of  American 
union ; "  on  motion  of  Macdougall,  they  confirmed  the  delib- 
erative ] lowers  of  the  continental  congress;  and  they  estab- 
lished a  connnittee  of  safety,  with  full  executive  powers  within 
the  colony.  The  general  congress  gave  directions  to  Lord  Stir- 
ling to  garrison  fortresses  on  Hudson  river  by  six  companies 
fr  ;m  New  Jersey,  and  to  encamp  the  rest  of  the  New  Jersey 
troops  contiguous  to  New  York.  Aided  by  his  battalion,  a 
party  of  Jersey  niiuute-meu  disarmed  the  disaffected  in  Queen's 
county,  Long  Island. 


Lender   the 


ij^'lnenco 


agent 


among 


of  Sir  John  Johnson,  the  Indian 
the  Mohawks,  disl)anded  Highlanders  who 
dwelt  in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  river  prepared  to  rally 
to  the  king's  standard.  By  order  of  the  general  congress, 
Schuyler  with  militia  from  Alljany,  joined  on  the  way  by 
ilerkimer  and  other  militia,  marched  upon  Johnsto^^'n,  took 
the  pai-ole  of  Johnson  to  preserve  neutrality,  and,  on  the  twen- 
tieth of  January  1770,  compelled  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred Highlanders  to  ground  their  arms  in  front  of  his  forces. 


\\i 


M!    1 


I  ' 


n  1:! 


I  ;|.  (• 


n 


812 

In  the 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.     ep.  m. ;  cii.  xx. 


comi 


:>  following?  days  irerkiii 
nient  of  the  (H.saffeetecl.     Schuyler  an  1  hi/party  received  the 
approbation  of  congress. 

British  men-of-war  were  masters  of  tlie  bay  and  the  harbor 
ot  ]New  lork,  the  East  river,  and  Hudson  river  below  the 
ILghhmds;  neitlier  Staten  Island  n.r  Long  Island  could  pre- 
vent the  landnig  of  British  troops;  the   possession  of  Lon^ 
Is  and  would  give  the  command  of  lAfanhattan  Island.     The 
colony  of  ^ew  York,  guided  by  men  of  high  ability,  courage 
and  purity,  had  pursued  a  system  of  moderation,  at  first  from 
a  desire  to  avoid  a  revolution,  if  it  could  be  done  without  a 
surrender  of  American  rights;  and,  when  that  hope  failed 
with  the  purpose  of  making  it  manifest  to  all  that  indepen- 
dence was  adopted  from  necessity.     It  M-as  wise  to  delay  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities  till  warlike  stores  could  be  imported 
Under  a  sort  of  truce  the  British  men-of-war  were  not  M 
upon ;  and  in  return  vessels  laden  with  provisions  to  purchase 
po.;der  in  St.  Eustatins  went  and  came  without  question. 

Ihc  declaration  of  independence  by  the  united  colonies 
was  prepared  in  the  convictions  of  all  the  American  people 
tht  n.?f  "'  T"  "'-^'"'"''  ^^^'^"^t--^-^'  a"d  couiiigeous 

lies     ..T"""       r-^'T  ^'^  '^''''  '''''''''■'  '^''  ««i^"^^  of 
etkc  ,  as  the  word  imphes,  is  deduced  from  their  conscience; 

law  Itself,  as  the  greatest  jurists  have  perceived,  is  moulded 
by   their  nature;   the  poet  imbodies  in   words  their  oracles 
and   their    htanies;    the    philosopher  draws    ideal    thought 
from  the  storehouse  of  their  mind;  the  national  heart  is  The 
home  of  high,  enduring  designs.     The  people,  whose  spirit  far 
outran_  conventions  and  congresses,  had  grown  weary  of  atro- 
phied institutions.     Instead  of  continuing  a  superstitious  rev- 
erence for  the  sceptre  and  the  throne,  as  the  symbols  of  order 
they  yearned  for  a  system  resting  directly  on  the  eternal,  mi- 
changeable  rule  of  right. 

Reid  among  Scottish  meta])hysicians,  and  Chatham,  the 
foremost  of  British  statesmen,  had  discovered  in  co.i.roN  sense 
the  cnterion  of  morals  and  truth ;  the  common  sense  of  the 
people  claimed  its  right  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  greatest 
question  ever  raised  in  the  political  world.  The  people  were 
more  and  more  possessed  with  a  silent,  meditative  feelin<.  of 


■BWi 


»'f 


1776.  ADVANCING  TOWARD  INDEPEXDEXCE. 


313 


independence.  Their  old  affection  for  England  remained  para- 
mount till  the  king's  proclamation  declared  tliem  rel)els.  All 
the  colonies,  as  though  they  had  been  but  one  individual,  felt 
themselves  wounded  to  the  soul  when  they  heard  and  could  no 
longer  doubt  that  George  III.  was  hiring  foreign  mercenaries, 
and  domesticated  negroes,  and  regiments  of  ruthless  red  men 
to  reduce  them  to  subjection. 

The  new  conviction  demanded  utterance ;  and,  as  the  de- 
bates in  congress  were  secret,  it  had  no  outlet  but  the  press. 
In  Novembei',  Franklin  encouraged  Thomas  Paine,  who  was 
the  master  of  a  singularly  lucid  style,  to  write  an  appeal  to  the 
people  of  America  in  favor  of  an  immediate  declaration  of  in- 
dependence. He  was  at  that  time  a  little  under  forty  years  of 
age ;  the  son  of  a  Quaker  of  Norfolk  in  England,  brought  up 
in  the  faith  of  George  Fox  and  Penn,  the  only  school  in  Eng- 
land where  he  could  have  learned  the  principles  which  he  was 
now  to  assert.  He  had  been  in  America  not  much  more  than 
a  year ;  but  in  tliat  time  he  had  frequented  the  society  of 
Franklin,  Rittenhouse,  Clymer,  and  Samuel  Adams.  His  essay, 
when  finished,  was  shown  to  Franklin,  to  Rittenhouse,  to  Sam- 
uel Adams,  and  to  Penjamin  Rush,  and  Rush  gave  it  the  title 
of  Common  Sense. 

"In  the  early  ages  of  the  world,"  so  it  was  reasoned, 
"  mankind  were  equals ;  the  heathen  introduced  government 
by  kings,  which  the  will  of  the  Ahnighty,  as  declared  by  Gid- 
eon and  the  prophet  Samuel,  expressly  disapproved.  Ileredi- 
tary  succession  might  put  posterity  under  the  government  of  a 
rogue  or  a  fool.  England  hath  known  some  few  good  mon- 
archs,  but  groaned  beneath  a  much  larger  number  of  bad  ones 
since  the  conquest,  in  which  time  there  have  been  no  less  than 
eight  civil  wars  and  nineteen  rebellions.  In  short,  monarchy 
and  succession  have  laid  not  this  kingdom  only,  but  the  world, 
in  blood  and  ashes. 

"  The  period  of  debate  on  the  struggle  between  England 
and  America  is  closed.  Arms  must  decide  the  contest ;  the 
appeal  was  the  choice  of  the  king,  and  the  continent  hath  ac- 
cepted the  challenge. 

"  The  sun  never  shone  on  a  cause  of  greater  worth.  'Tis 
not  the  affair  of  a  city,  a  county,  a  province,  or  a  kingdom, 


iM 


I  i    Jl 


m  I 


I  'f 


II 


3U  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ki-.  rn. 


(11.  XX. 


but  of  a  continent,  of  at  least 


globe.     'Tis  not  the  (•oneem  of  a  day,  a  y 


one  eiglitli  part  of  the  habitable 


tei-ity  are  involved  in  it 


ear,  or  an  aire 


f]ii 


even  to  the  end  of  time. 


■6'- 5 


JWS- 


rope,  and  not  England,  is  the  ixarent 


^        ,  -  , country  of  Amer- 

ica: tins  new  world  hath  been  the  asylmn  for  the  persecuted 
lovere  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  from  everv  part  of  Europe  • 
we  clanu  brotherhood  with  every  Eui-opean  Christian,  and  tri- 
umph in  the  generosity  of  the  sentiment. 

"Much  hath  been  said  that   Britain  and  the  colonies  in 
conjunction,  might  bid  defiance  to  the  world.     AVhat  have 'we 
to  do  with  setting  the  world  at  defiance?     ()„r  plan  is  com- 
merce; and  that  will  secure  us  the  friendship  of  all  Eu'-ope 
It  IS  the  true  interest  of  America  to  steer  clear  of  European 
contentions,  which  she  never  can  do  while  by  her  dependence 
on  Jh-itam  she  is  the  makeweight  in  the  scale  of  British  politics 
"The  distance  at  which  tiie  Almiglity  hath  placed  England 
and  America  IS  a  strong  and  natural  proof  that  the  autl.wity 
of  the  one  over  the  other   was  never  the  design  of  heaven, 
ihey  belong  to  different  systems-England  to  Europe,  Amer- 
ica to  Itself.     Everything  short  of  independence  is  leaviiu^  the 
sword  to  our  children. 

"Notliing  but  a  continental  form  of  government  can  Iccop 
the  peace  of  the  continent  inviolate  from  civH  wars.     The  colo- 
nies have  manifested  such  a  spirit  of  good  o>-der  and  obedi- 
ence to  continental  government  as  is  sufHcient  to  make  every 
reasonable  person  easy  and  happy  on  that  head  ;  if  there  is  any 
true  cause  oi  fear  respecting  independence,  it  is  because  no  plan 
IS  yet  laid  down.     Let  a  continental  conference  be  held    to 
frame  a  continental  charter,  or  charter  of  the  United  C^olonies 
"All  men,  whether  in  England  or  America,  confess  that  a 
separation  between  the  countries  will  take  place  ono  time  or 
other     To  find  out  the  very  time,  we  need  not  go  far,  for  the 
line  hath  found  us.     The  present,  likewise,  is  that  peculiar 
time  which  never  happens  to  a  nation  but  once-the  time  of 
forming  itself  into  a  government. 

"Xothing  can  settle  our  affairs  so  expeditiously  as  an  open 
and  determined  declaration  for  independence.  While  we  pro- 
fess ourselves  the  subjects  of  Britain,  we  must,  in  the  eves  of 
foreign  nations,  be  considered  as  rebels.     A  manifestJ  pub- 


f'  'Hi 


1776. 


ADVANCING  TOWAItD   INDKI'EXDEN'CE. 


01  r; 


I 


lislied  and  despatched  to  foreign  courts,  setting  fortli  the  niis- 
cries  we  have  endured  and  declaring  that  wo  liad  been  driven 
to  the  necessity  of  hreaking  of!  all  connection  with  her,  at  the 
same  time  assuring  all  such  courts  of  our  desire  of  fMitering 
into  trade  with  them,  would  produce  more  g(j(xl  ellects  to  this 
continent  than  a  ship  f/eighted  with  petitions  to  Britain. 

"  A  government  of  our  own  is  our  natural  riglit.  Ye  that 
love  mankind,  stand  forth !  Every  spot  of  the  Old  World  is 
overrun  with  oppression  ;  Freedom  hath  been  hunted  round  the 
globe ;  Europe  regards  her  like  a  stranger,  and  England  hath 
given  her  warning  to  dei)art ;  oh,  receive  the  fugitive,  and  pre- 
pare an  asylum  for  mankind !  " 

The  pamphlet  "Common  Sense"  was  jmblished  on  the 
eighth  of  January,  most  opp(jrtunely,  for  on  that  day  the 
king's  speech  at  the  opening  of  jxu'liamcnt  arrived.  When 
Washington  came  to  read  the  king's  speech,  he  let  it  be  known 
that  in  his  opinion  independence  should  be  declared.  Greene 
wrote  to  his  friend  Ward,  a  delegate  from  Rhode  Island  in  con- 
gress "  J\rmit  me,  from  the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  ready  at  all 
times  to  bleed  in  my  country's  cause,  to  recommend  a  declara- 
tion of  independence,  and  call  upon  the  world  and  the  great 
God  who  governs  it  to  witness  the  necessity,  propriety,  and 
rectitude  thereof."  John  Adams,  who  liad  been  elected  chief 
justice  in  Massachusetts,  was  then  at  homo.  Scorning  the 
threats  of  the  king,  he  giivc  his  advice  to  the  lS"ew  England 
colonies  to  persevere  in  the  war  to  the  end,  even  if  no  other 
colony  than  New  York  would  join  with  them. 

But  in  America  the  formation  of  new  governmeiits  was 
like  passing  through  death  to  life.  The  convention  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  was  the  first  to  frame  a  government  of  its 
own,  disavowed  the  intention  of  scpartiting  from  the  parent 
country,  and  merged  the  executive  power  in  the  two  branches 
of  the  legislature  only  during  "  the  unnatural "  contest  with 
Great  Britain.  The  legislature  of  Maryland  voted  unhesitat- 
ingly to  put  the  province  in  a  state  of  defence,  but  on  the 
eleventh  of  January  bore  their  testimony  to  the  equity  of  the 
English  constitution,  and  forbade  their  delegates  in  congress  to 
assent  to  any  ^n-oposition  for  independence,  foreign  alliance,  or 
confederation. 


It 


t 


ipfi 


'    li! 


310  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 

"Tliu  tyrant!''  said  tlie  impatient  Samuel  Ad 
read  tliu  [)ro('ecdings  at  the  late  opening  of  pari 


i:i'.  III.;  (11.  .\x. 


•nis,  as  ho 
,    ,        ,  -  1         r.    -  parliament;  "hid 

speech  hreathes  the  n.ost  malevolent  spirit,  and  detennines 
my  opinion  of  its  author  as  a  man  of  a  wicked  heart.  I  have 
heard  tliat  lie  is  his  own  minister;  why,  then,  should  we  cast 
the  oduun  of  (h'.^t reusing  maiddnd  upon  his  minions?  (luilt 
must  lie  at  his  door;  divine  vengeance  will  fall  on  his  head'" 
and,  with  the  ai.l  of  Wythe  of  Virginia,  the  patri..t  set  vi'o-- 
orously  to  work  to  hring  on  a  confederation  and  independ- 
ence. ^ 

On  the  day  after  the  i)uhHcation  of  "  Connnon  Sense  "  W-'l- 
8on  came  to  congress  with  the  king's  speech  Iti  his  han.l-  and 
quoting  fi-om  it  the  words  which  cluuged  the  colonists  with 
aiming  at  a  separation,  he  moved  the  appointment  of  a  com- 
mittee to  explain  to  their  constituents  and  to  the  world  the 
princii)les  and  grounds  of   their  opjiosition,  and  their  present 
intentions   respecting   independence,     lie  was   stron-.-ly  sup- 
ported.    On  the  other  hand,  Samuel  Adams  insisted  that  con- 
gress had  already  been  explicit  enough,  and  rallied  the  bolder 
members,  in  the  hope  to  defeat  the  proposal ;  but,  in  the  absence 
1  ,;"  ,'^''''"'''  '''^'""  ^''^  colleagues,  Gushing  and  Paine,  sided 
with  W  ilson,  and  the  vote  of  Massachusetts  formed  a  jxart  of  his 
majority.     ^Yhon  Cushing's  constituents  heard  of  his  waver- 
ing, they  elected  Elbridge  (Jerry  in  his  ])]ace ;  at  the  moment, 
Samuel  Adams  repaired  to  Franklin.     In  a  free  conversation 
these  two  great  sons  of  Boston  agreed  that  confederation  must 
be  speedily  brought  on,  even  though  the  concurrence  of  every 
colony  could  not  l)e  obtained.     "  U  none  of  the  rest  will  join  '' 
said  Samuel  Adams  to  Franklin,  "  I  will  endeavor  to  nnite  tl'ie 
JNew  England  colonies  in  confederating."     «I  approve  your 
proposal,"  said  Franklin ;  "  and,  if  you  succeed,  I  will  cast  in 
my  lot  among  you." 

On  the  sixteenth,  Franklin,  who  best  knew  the  folly  of 
expecting  peace  through  British  commissioners,  endeavored  to 
get  a  day  fixed  for  the  consideration  of  his  plan  of  a  confed- 
eracy;  but  he  was  opposed  by  Hooper,  who,  contrary  to  his 
own  washes,  obeyed  the  instructions  of  North  Carolina,  and 
the  majority  was  against  him.  The  inexorable  malice  of  the 
kmg  and  his  officers  could  alone  impel  the  thirteen  colonies  to 


1770. 


ADVAXCIN'G  TOWAUD   INDEPK XDENCE, 


317 


a  united  assertion  of  indcpondciicc.     It  soon  loft  no  option  to 
the  oldest  and  liirgest  and  most  populous  of  tliein  all. 

Driven  from  the  land  of  Vir^nnia,  Dunmore  maintained 
connnand  of  the  water  l)y  means  of  atlotilla  eomposed  of  three 
vessels-of-war,  cairyin^'  altogether  hfty-four  guns,  aided  by 
Bhips,  light  vessels,  and  tenders.  Ilis  lirst  outi-age  was  vu  the 
press,  l-'inding  fault  with  the  newspaper  published  by  John 
Holt  at  JS'orfollv,  ho  sent  on  shore  a  small  party,  who  brought 
oil  two  printers  and  the  material,-  of  a  printing-office. 

A  few  months  later  this  precedent  was  followed  in  New 
York.  Isaac  Sears,  entering  the  city  with  a  i)arty  of  mountec 
volunteers  from  Connecticut,  rifled  the  printing-house  of  the 
t(  ..  Rivington  ;  but  the  act  was  censured  by  the  conunittee  and 
0  I'v  'ution  of  New  Ycjrk  as  an  infringement  of  the  liberty  of 
th(  press,  and  a  dangerous  example  to  their  enemies. 

In  Virginia  the  war  began  with  the  defence  of  Hampton, 
a  small  village  at  the  end  of  the  isthmus  between  York  and 
James  i-ivers.  An  anned  sloop,  driven  on  its  shore  in  a  gale, 
had  been  rilled  and  set  on  fire.  Dnmnore  blockaded  the  port. 
Its  inhabitants  summoned  to  tiieir  aid  one  company  of  the 
Virginia  regulars  and  another  of  minute-men,  besides  a  body 
of  militia.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  Dumaore  sent  ten- 
ders into  Hampton  Roads  to  burn  the  town.  The  guard 
marched  out  to  repel  them,  and  George  Nicholas,  Avho  com- 
manded the  Virginians,  discharged  his  musket  at  one  of  the 
tenders.  It  was  the  first  gun  fired  in  Virginia  against  the 
British;  his  example  was  followed  by  his  party.  The  British 
on  that  day  \'ainly  attemi)ted  to  land.  In  the  following  night 
the  Culp('])i)er  rillemen  were  despatched  to  Hampton.  The 
next  day  tlie  British  renewed  the  attack;  the  fire  of  the  rifle- 
men killed  a  few  and  wounded  more.  One  of  the  tenders  was 
taken,  with  its  armament  and  seven  seamen;  the  rest  were 
towed  out  of  the  creek.     The  Virginians  lost  not  a  man. 

In  Engkiiul,  Dunmore  had  Ite^n  taken  at  his  word,  and  Lord 
Dartmouth  had  enjoined  "  him,  Avith  the  regulars  whom  he 
was  authorized  to  send  for,  and  "the  men  whom  he  had  said 
he  could  raise  from  among  Indians,  negroes,  and  other  per- 
sons," to  bring  together  "at  least  force  enough  to  withstand 

*  Diutinoiith  to  Duiiiuurc,  12  July  1775.    JIS. 


',1, 


!; 


318         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.    EP.iir.;  on.  xx. 

attacks,  if  not  to  reduce  the  colony  to  obedience."     He  ac^ 
cordn.o-ly  raised  tlie  king's  flag,  proclaimed  martial  law    re- 
quired every  person  capable  of  bearing  arms  to  resort  to  his 
standard  under  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  life  and  property  and 
declared  freedom  to  "  all  indented  servants,  negroes,  or  other, 
appertaming  to  rebels,"  if  they  would  "join  for  the  reducing 
the  colony  to  a  i>roper  sense  of  its  duty."    "  I  hope,"  said  he' 
"it  will  oblige  the  rel)els  to  disperse  to  take  care  of  their  fami- 
lies and  property."     The  men  to  whose  passions  he  appealed 
were  either  convicts,  bound  to  labor  in  expiation  of  misdeeds, 
or  Africans,  some  of  them  fresldy  imi)or.ed.     They  formed  the 
majority  of  the  population  on  tide-water,  and  on  the  lonely 
plantations  dwelt  in  clusters  around  the  homes  of  their  o^vners 
Dunmore  further  sent  f.,r  the  small  detachment  of  reo-ulars 
stationed  in  Illinois  and  tlie  North-west ;  authorized  JohirCon- 
nolly  to  raise  a  regiment  in  the  backwoods  of  Virginia  and 
Pennsylvania  ;  coimnissioned  I\rackce,  a  de])utv  superintendent 
to  raise  one  of  western  savages ;  and  directed  them  all  to  march 
to  Alexandria.     For  himself  he  undertook  to  "  raise  one  regi- 
ment of  white  people,  to  be  called  the  Queen's  Own  Loyal 
A  irgima;  the  other  of  negroes,  to  be  called  Lord  Dunmore's 
Jiitluopian." 

Connolly  was  arrested  in  ]\[aryland  in  November,  and  the 
movements  at  tlie  AV\>st  were  prevented.  The  general  con- 
gress promptly  invited  Virginia  to  institute  a  government  of 
her  own.  A  ilu-iU  of  indignation  effaced  all  differences  of 
party.  William  Campl  ell  and  (lil.son  stood  ready  to  march 
from  Fmcastlo  and  West  Augusta  with  riile  companies  of  "as 
fine  men  as  ever  were  seen."  Li  the  vallev  of  the  Blue  llid-e 
the  congregations  of  Germans,  quickened  by  the  preaching  of 
Muhlenberg,  were  eager  to  take  up  arms. 

The  Virginians  could  plead,  an<l  did  plead,  that  "tlieir 
ass^nbbes  had  repeatedly  atrempted  to  prevent  the  horrid 
traffic  in  slaves,  and  had  been  frustrated  by  the  cnielty  and 
covetousness  of  English  merchants,  who  prevailed  on  the  kin- 
to  repeal  their  merciful  acts."  Had  Dunmore  been  undisputed 
mastc>r  of  the  country  when  he  attomi)ted  to  enroll  the  ne-n-oes 
a  social  revolution  might  have  ensued.  An  appeal  to  "them' 
from  a  fugitive  govern.;!-  could  leave  no  permanent  trace. 


'  \  I 


1776.  ADVANCING  TOWARD  INDEPENDENCE. 


319 


as 


Norfolk,  almost  entirely  deseri^d  by  native  Virginians, 
became  the  refuge  of  tluj  factors  of  Glasgow  merchants,  who 
Vv-ere  imbodied  as  its  loyal  militia. 

The   committee   of  safety   at  Williamsburg,  informed  of 
these  transactions,  sent  a  regiment  and   about  two  hundred 
minute-men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  AYoodford,  to  de- 
fend the  inhal)itants  of  the  low  country.     With  the  minute- 
men,   John  Marshall,  afterward  chief  justice  of  the  United 
States,  served  as  a  lieutenant.     They  came  down  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Elizabeth  river.     Informed  of  their  approach.  Dun- 
more,  collecting  volunteers  and  what  regular  troops  he  could 
muster,  took  a  well-chosen  ]iosition  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Great  Bridge,  on  a  piece  of  firm  ground  accessible  only  by  a 
long  causeway  over  a   marsh.     The  Virginians  tlirew  up  a 
breastwork  at  the  south  end  of  the  same  causeway.     After 
some  delay,  Dunmore  was  so  rash  as  to  risk  an  attempt  to  sur- 
prise them.     On  the  eighth  of  December,  after  dark,  he  sent 
about  two  Inmdred  regulars,  comi)osed  of  all  that  had  arrived 
of  the  fourteenth  regiment,  and  of  officers,  sailors,  and  gun- 
ners from  the  ships,  mixed  with  townsmen  of  Norfolk.     After 
the  break  of  day  and  before  sunrise,  Leslie  planted  two  field- 
pieces  between  the  bridge  and  the  causeway,  and  gave  orders 
for  the  attack ;  but,  at  the  first  discharge  of  the  cannon,  the 
bravest  of  the  Virginians  rushed  to  the  trenches.    The  advance 
party  of  regulars,  about  one  humlred  and  twenty  in  muuber, 
led  by  Fordyce,  a  captain  in  the  fourteenth,  were  met  on  the 
causeway  by  a  well-directed  fii-e;  while  Stevens,  with  a  party 
of  the  Culpepper  minute-men,  posted  on  an  eminence  about  a 
hundred  yards  to  the  left,  took  tluMU  in  flank.     They  wavered  ; 
Foi'dyce,  with  a  courage  which  wns  the  a(linirati<m  of  all  be- 
holders, rallied  them  and  led  them  on,  till,  struck  with  many 
rifle-balls,  he  fell  dead  within  a  few  ste])s  of  the  breastwork. 
The  regulars  then  retreated,  after  a  struggle  of  about  fourteen 
minutes,  losing  over  sixty  in  killed  ami  wounded.    Fordyce  was 
buried  by  the  Virginians  with  the  honors  due  to  his  ga'llantrv. 


In  the  follow 


ing  night  Leslie  abandoned  the  fort  and 


re- 


treated to  Norfolk.     X(^{hing  could  exceed  the  consternation 


of  its  Scotch  inhalntants:  rich  fact 


:ors,  wi 


til  tl 


leu'  Maves 


and 


children,  leaving  their  large  property  behind  in  midwinter, 


Ifl 


imL^ 

If 

Ir 

Pi  '  ^ 

h 

i  1 


T 


I!  I 


320  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  m. ;  en.  xx. 

crowded  on  board  ships,  scantily  provided  with  even  tlie  neces- 
saries of  life.  J^or  peoi)'e  and  runaway  negroes  were  huddled 
together,  without  comfort  or  even  pure  air. 

On  the  fourteenth,  Rohert  Howe,  from  Xorth  Carolina, 
assumed  the  command  and  took  possession  of  Norfolk.  Just 
one  w(^ek  later  the  Liverpool  ship-of-war  and  the  ])rig  Unvia 
were  piloted  into  the  liarbor.  They  brought  the  tlu-ee  thou- 
sand stand  of  anns,  with  which  IJumuore  had  promised  to  im- 
body  negroes  and  Indians  enough  to  reduce  Virginia.  Mar- 
tm  of  Xorth  Carolina  obtained  a  third  part  of  them. 

The  governor  sent  a  flag  of  truce  on  shore  to  inquire  if  he 
and  the  lieet  might  be  supplied  with  fresh  provisions,  and  was 
answered  m  the  negative.  Showing  his  instructions  to  IJelew 
the  eaptam  of  the  Liverpool,  the  two  concurred  in  opinion 
that  INorfolk  was  '^  a  town  in  actual  rebellion,  accessible  to  the 
knigs  ships;"  and  they  prepared  to  carry  out  the  kino-^s  in- 
structions for  such  "  a  case."  "^ 

On  New  Year's  day,  1770,  the  KingHshcr  was  stationed 
at  the  npper  end  of  Norfolk;  a  little  below  her  the  Otter; 
iielew,  in  the  Liverpool,  anchored  near  the  middle  of  the 
town ;  and  next  hiui  lay  Dnnmore  ;  the  rest  of  the  fleet  was 
moored  in  the  harbor.     Between  tliree  and  four  in  the  after- 
noon a  severe  fire  was  begnn  from  about  sixty  pieces  of  can- 
non.    A\  hen  night  was  c(miing  on,  Duumore  ordered  out  sev- 
eral boats  to  burn  warehouses  on  the  wharfs,  and  hailed  to 
Lelew  to  set  fire  to  a  large  brig  which  lay  in  the  dock.     The 
vessels  of  the  fleet  emulated  each  other  iu  sending  boats  on 
shore  to  spread  the  llames  along  the  river;  and,  as  the  build- 
nigs  M-ere  chiefly  of  pine  wood,  tiio  conllagration,  driven  by  the 
wind,  sprea<l  with  amazing  rapidity.     ,M,,iJ,ers  with  little'ones 
in  their  arms  were  seen  by  the  glare,  rnnniug  to  get  ont  of 
the  range  of  cannon-balls.    Several  times  the  British  attempted 
to  land  with  artillery,  but  were  driven  back.     The  cannonade, 
with  bu   one  short  i.ause,  was  kept  up  till  two  the  next  morn- 
ings    Ihe  flames  raged  for  three  <lays,  till  f<,m-  fifths  of  the 
iionscs  were  reduced  to  ashes  and  heaps  of  laiins. 

Iu  this  manner  the  royal  governor  burned  the  best  of  the 
towns  in  England's  oldest  an<l  most  loyal  colony,  to  which 
Mizabetli  had     ' " 


i'lveu  a  name,  Ualeigh  devoted  his  fortu 


ne,  and 


1776. 


ADVANCING  TOWAI^D  INDEPENDENCE. 


.'lew. 


321 

Shakespeare  and  Bacon  and  Herbert  foresliadowe.l  greatness  • 
a  colony  whose  people  had  established  the  national  clmrch  and 
were  prond  tliat  their  ancestors,  in  the  day  of  the  British  com- 
monwealth, had  been  faithful  to  the  lino  of  kings. 

"1  hope,"  said  Washington,  as  he  learned  the  fate  of  the 
rich  emporium  of  Virginia,  "  I  hope  this  and  the  threatened 
devastation  of  other  places  will  unite  the  Avhole  country  in 
one   indissoluble   band  against  a  ntition   which  seems  lost  to 
every  sense  of  virtue,  and  those  feelings  wliich  distinguish  a 
civilized  people  from  the  most   barbarous  savages."  Vhen 
the  Virgmia  convention,  which  had  been  in  session  from  the 
lirst  of  December,  heard  of  the  burning  of  Norfolk,  the  two 
regiments  already  in  service  were  increased,  and  seven  more 
were  ordered  to  be  raised.     Of  one  of  these  Hugh  Mercer  was 
electea  colonel;  the  command  of  another  was  given  to  the 
Lutheran  minister,  Peter  Muhlenberg,  who  left  the  pulpit  to 
torm  out  ot  his  several  congregations  one  of  the  most  i)erfect 
battalions  in  the  armv. 

The  demand  of  a  world-wide  commerce  broke  forth  from 
Virgania.  _  C)n  motion  of  Archibald  Gary,  her  convention,  on 
the  twentieth  of  January  17TG,  instructed  her  delegates  in 
favor  of  opening  the  ports  of  the  colonies  to  all  persons  winino- 
to  trade  with  them,  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  British  Wesi 
Indies  excepted.     That  this  recommendation  should  have  been 
left,  after  ten  months  of  war,  to  be  proposed  by  a  ])rovincial 
convention,  is  another  evidence  of  the  all  but  invincible  attach- 
ment of  the  colonics  to  England.     The  i)rogre.ss  of  the  war 
brought  to  America  independence  in  all  but  the  name ;  she 
had  her  treasury,  her  army,  the  rudiments  of  a  navy,  incipient 
toreign  relations,  and  a  striving  after  fi-ee  trade  with  the  \vorld 
bhc  must  be  self-dependent,  whether  she  would  be  so  or  not  • 
through  no  other  way  would  the  king  allow  her  to  hoj^e  for  re^t' 
In  the  army  round  Boston,  AYashino'ton  for  i.K.re  than  two 
months  scarcely  emerged  from  one  difHculty  before*  he  was 
plunged  into  another.     His  best  dependence  for  powder  and 
flints,  and  m  part  for  artillery,  was  on  prizes  made  mider  the 
pme-tree  flag  by  the  brave  Manly  and  others  of  Kew  En-land 
Ihe  men  who  enlisted  for  tlie  coming  year  M'crc  desired  to 
"""  " *'^^n  '^i-m^;  those  whose  time  expired  were  com- 

VOL.    IV.— 21 


bring  their 


1         (. 


it     .1: 


^P|Kairi^i    'J     I-' 

■ 

If      '" 

■ 

i  'i. 


I'  '!■ '' 


1       ii  i' 


:1) 


322 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. :  en.  XX. 


pelled  to  i^art  Avitli  theirs  at  a  valuation  ;  for  blankets  tlie  gen- 
eral appealed  to  the  families  of  :N'ew  England,  asking  at  least 
one  from  each  liousehold ;  the  nearer  villages,  in  their  town- 
meetings,  encouraged  the  supply  of  Avood  to  the  camp  by 
voting  a  bounty  from  the  town  treasuries. 

The  enlistments  for  the  new  army  went  on  slowly,  for  the 
New  England  men  were  disinclined  to  engagements  which 
would  take  them  far  from  home,  on  wages  to  be  paid  irregu- 
larly and  tardily  and  in  a  constantly  depreciating  currency. 
For  want  of  funds  to  answer  the  accounts  of  the  commissary 
and  quartermaster,  the  troops  were  forced  to  submit  to  a  re- 
duced allowance. 

Connecticut  soldiers,  whose  enlistment  expired  early  in 
December,  hasteiied  home  so  soon  as  they  became  free ;  but 
others  of  their  colony  Avere  ready  to  take  their  places.  At  the 
call  of  the  colonial  governments,  three  thousand  men  from  the 
militia  of  Massachusetts  and  Uvo  thousand  from  Xew  Hamp- 
shire had  repaired  to  the  camp  with  celerity,  and  cheerfully 
braved  "  tlie  want  of  wood,  barracks,  and  blankets."  The  forti- 
fications were  extended  to  Lechmere's  Point,  and  every  possi- 
ble lan(ling-])lace  for  a  sallying  party  from  Boston  was  secured 
by  intrenchments. 

On  the  first  day  of  January  ITTn,  the  tri-colored  Ameri- 
can banner,  not  yet  spangled  with  stars,  but  showing  thirteen 
stripes  of  alternate  red  and  Avhite  in  the  field,  and  the  united 
red  and  wliite  crosses  of  Saint  George  and  Saint  Andrew  on 
a  blue  ground  in  the  corner,  was  unfurled  over  the  new  con- 
tinental army  round  Boston. 

On  that  day  free  negroes  stood  in  the  ranks  by  the  side 
of  white  men.  The  first  general  order  of  Ward  had  re- 
(piircd  a  return,  among  other  things,  of  "the  complexion" 
of  the  soldiers ;  and  black  men,  like  others,  were  retained  in 
the  service  after  the  troops  were  adopted  by  the  continent. 
We  have  seen  Edward  Rutledge  <lefeated  in"  his  attempt  to 
compel  their  discluu'ge;  in  October,  the  conference  at  the 
camp,  witli  Franklin,  Harrison,  and  Lynch,  thought  it  proper 
to  exclude  tliem  from  the  new  enlistment ;  but  Washington, 
at  the  crisis  of  his  distress,  finding  that  they  were  very  much 
di.^patlsfied   at  being  discarded,   reversed   the   decision,    and 


1776.  ADVANCING  TOWARD  INDEPENDENCE. 


323 


asked  the  approval  of  congress.  Tliat  body  appointed  Wytlio, 
Samuel  Adams,  and  Wilson  to  deliberate  on  the  question  ; 
and,  on  their  report,  it  was  decided  "  that  the  free  negi-oes, 
who  had  served  faithfully  in  the  anny  at  Cambridge  might 
be  re-enlisted  therein,  but  no  others."  The  right  of  free 
negroes  to  take  part  in  the  defence  of  the  country  having  thus 
been  partially  admitted  by  the  highest  power,  the  limitation 
was  lost  sight  of,  and  they  served  in  the  American  armies 
during  every  period  of  the  war. 

The  enlistments  for  the  army  of  Washington  were  em- 
barrassed by  the  vrant  of  funds ;  he  could  neither  pay  off  the 
old  army  nor  assure  the  punctual  payment  of  the  militia.  In 
January  1770,  he  was  left  with  but  about  ten  thousand  dollars, 
and  this  small  sum  was  held  as  a  reserve.  The  Massachusetts 
council  was  authorized  to  lend  him  fifty  thousand  pounds; 
and  it  was  left  to  ^lassachusetts,  with  the  aid  of  Khode  Island, 
Connecticut,  and  Xew  Hampshire,  to  keep  up  the  numbers  of 
the  army  wliile  it  remained  on  her  soil. 

The  troops  before  Boston  were  a  mixture  of  recraits  and 
transient  militia,  requiring  a  constant  renewal  of  elementary 
instruction.  There  was  a  dearth  of  bayonets,  a  want  of  at 
least  two  thousand  muskets ;  the  artillery  was  poor,  and  was 
chiefly  a  gathering  from  accidental  sources.  There  was  no 
sufficient  store  of  powder ;  for  members  of  congi'ess,  eager  to 
give  profitable  occupation  to  ship-builders  among  their  con- 
stituents reserved  what  little  was  obtained  for  the  use  of  ves- 
sels which  could  not  be  prepared  for  sea  before  more  ample 
stores  would  arrive ;  and  Washington,  anxious  as  he  was  "  to 
keep  above  water  in  the  esteem  of  mankind,"  was  compelled 
to  conceal  his  want  from  the  public,  from  his  friends,  and  even 
from  most  of  Iiis  officers. 

At  the  moment  when  ho  Avas  left  with  not  half  so  many 
serviceable  troops  as  the  army  which  he  besieged,  the  chinmey- 
comer  lieroes  in  congress,  on  the  twenty-second  of  Deccna)er 
1775,  after  a  long  and  most  serious  debate  "  authorized  him  to 
attack  T?oston,  notwithstanding  the  town  might  thereby  be  de- 
stroyed." 

Itepelling  the  iiisinnafion  of  inactivity,  he  answered  the 
superior  civil  power:  ''It  is  not  perhaps  in  the  pages  of  his- 


111       n| 

it 


'i^  VI 


!' 


r   I 


324  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  in. ;  en.  XX. 


tory  to  fumisli  a  ease  like  ours:  to  maintain  a  post  within 
musket-shot  of  the  enemy  for  six  months  together  without 
lewder,  and  at  tlie  same  time  to  disband  one  army  and  recruit 
another  within  that  distance  of  twenty  odd  British  regiments 
is  more,  probahly,  than  ever  was  attempted." 

On  tlie  ninth  of  Fehniary  lie  wrote  to  tlio  president  of 
congress,  in  words  of  dignity  and  wisdom :  "  The  pui-port  of 
this  letter  will  be  directed  to  a  single  object.     Through  you 
I  mean  to  lay  it  before  congress,  and  at  the  same  time  that  I 
beg  their  serious  attention  to  the  subject,  to  ask  pardon  for 
intruding   an  opinion,  not  only  unasked,  but  repugnant   to 
their  resolves.     The  disadvantages  attending  the  limited  en- 
listment of  troops  are  too  apparent  to  those  who  are  eye- 
witnesses of  them  to  render  any  animadversions  necessary; 
but  to  gentlemen  at  a  distance  whose  attention  ib  engrossed 
by  a  thousand  important  objects,  the  case  may  be  otherwise. 
This  cause  precipitated  the  fate  of  the  brave  Montgomery 
and  brought  on  the  defeat  which  followed.     That  we  were 
not  at  one  time  obliged  to  dispute  these  lines  from  the  troops 
disbanding  of  themselves  before  the  militia  could  be  got  in, 
proves  that  General  Howe  was  either  unacquainted  with  our 
situation  or  restrained  by  his  instructions.     Since  the  first  of 
December  we  never  have  been  able  to  act  upon  the  olfen- 
sive,  and  at  times  were  not  in  a  condition  to  defend  ;  yet  the 
cost  of  marching  home  one  set  of  men  and  bringing  in  another 
amounts  to  near  as  much  as  the  keeping  up  a  respectable  body 
of  troops  the  whole  time,  ready  for  any  emergency.     To  this 
may  bo  added  that  you  never  can  have  a  *vell-disciplined  army. 
To  make  men  well  acquainted  witli  the  duties  of  a  soldier,  un- 
der proper  discii)line  and  subordinatio.i,  requires  time,  and  in 
this  army,  where  there  is  so  little  distinction  between  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers,  requires  an  uncommon  degree  of  attention. 
To  c\])cct  the  same  service  from  raw  recruits  as  from  veteran 
soldiers  is  to  expect  what  never  did,  and  perhaps  never  will, 
happen.     Men  familiarized  to  danger  meet  it  without  shrink- 
ing;^ troops  unused  to  ser^^ce  apprehend  danger  where  no  dan- 
ger is.     Men  of  a  day's  standing  grow  careless  of  their  arms, 
ammunition,  and  camp  utensils,  and  lay  us  under  fresh  expense 
for  every  fresh  sot.     To  this  may  be  added  the  seasoning  uhich 


t   'i 


1776. 


ADVANCIIsG  TOWARD  INDEPENDENCE. 


325 


new  recruits  must  have  to  a  camp,  and  the  loss  consequent 
thereupon.  With  all  due  deference,  I  take  the  freedom  to  give 
it  as  my  opinion  that,  if  congress  have  any  reason  to  believe 
that  there  will  be  occasion  for  troops  another  year,  and,  conse- 
quently, for  another  enlistment,  they  would  save  money  and 
have  iniiiiitely  better  troops  if  they  were,  even  at  a  bounty  of 
twenty,  thirty,  or  more  dollars,  to  engage  men  for  and  during 
the  war.  It  will  never  do  to  let  the  matter  alone,  as  it  was  last 
year,  until  the  time  of  service  was  near  expiring.  The  hazard 
is  too  great,  in  the  first  place;  in  the  next,  the  trouble  and 
perplexity  of  disbanding  one  army  and  raising  another  at  the 
same  instant  and  in  such  a  critical  situation  as  the  last  was,  are 
scarcely  in  the  power  of  words  to  describe,  and  such  as  no  man 
who  has  experienced  them  once  will  ever  undergo  again.  If 
congrcjss  should  differ  from  me,  I  beg  that  they  will  believe 
that  I  have  nothing  more  in  view  than  the  public  weal." 

The  state  of  his  army  gave  him  many  an  uneasy  hour  when 
all  around  him  were  wra])ped  in  sleep ;  and  he  often  considered 
how  mucli  happier  would  have  been  his  lot  if,  instead  of  ac- 
cepting the  chief  connnand,  he  had  taken  his  musket  on  his 
shoulder  and  entered  the  ranks.  "  The  means  used  to  conceal 
his  weakness  from  the  enemy  concealed  it  also  from  his  friends, 
and  added  to  their  wonder."  But  the  order  of  congress  was 
never  out  of  his  mind ;  and  when  in  February  his  army  was 
reorganized,  and  the  shallow  bay  west  of  Boston  was  frozen 
over,  he  was  readj  to  lead  a  general  assault  on  the  town,  had 
not  tlie  council  of  war  almost  unanimously  disapproved  the 
proposal.  As  soon  as  he  had  in  reserve  one  hundred  barrels  of 
powder,  he  proceeded  in  his  own  way  to  break  up  the  "nest" 
of  the  British. 

The  army  in  that  town  consisted  of  nearly  eight  thou'-.and 
rank  and  tile,  beside  officers  and  the  complements  of  tlie  ships- 
of-war.  Tlie  young  officers  were  full  of  ingenious  devices  to 
amuse  tlie  common  soldiers,  and  to  relieve  their  own  wearisome 
hours.  The  Old  South  meeting-house  was  turned  into  a  riding- 
scliool ;  Faneuil  Hall  l)ecame  a  play-house,  wliere  the  officers 
a])peared  as  actors ;  they  even  attempted  balls  and  planned  a 
masquerade.  The  winter  was  mild;  provisions  arrived  in 
abundance  from  Ireland  and  England,  from  Barbados  and  An- 


'  II  111! 


1 1 

I! 


l[ 


iri 


^(     I 


i|. 


>  I, 


? 


If, 


■  J 


! 


i/ 


326  AMERICA  AKMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEIfCE.    ep.  iii. ;  en.  sx. 

lignja.     Tlie  time  was  wliiled  away  in  comfortable  quarters, 
witliout  a  tliought  of  danger. 

To  obtain  lieavy  ordnance,  Washington,  in  Xovember  1775, 
had  despatciied  General  Knox  to  Ticonderoga.     In  obedience 
to  Jns  nnniite  orders,  fortj-tlirce  cannon,  among  wbicli  one  was 
ot  twentj-lonr  pounds  and  eleven  of  eighteen  pounds,  with 
mortars  lead,  and  Hints,  were  laden  upon  forty-two  exceedingly 
strong  sleds  and  drawn  by  eighty  yoke  of  oxen  to  Cambridge. 
AVih  a  community  of  thought  and  purpose  and  secrecy  that 
made  of  the  army  one  mind  and  one  will,  Washington  prepared 
hrst  to  take  possession  of  Dorchester  Heights  which  would 
give  the  command  of  a  great  part  of  Boston,  and  next  of  Nook 
ilill  in  immediate  contiguity  to  the  town.     The  time  chosen 
for  the  erection  of  the  works  was  the  eve  of  the  anniversary 
of     the  Loston  massacre."     The  superintending  engineer  was 
Kufus  Putnam.     The  council  of  Massachusetts,  at  Washino-. 
ton  s  request,  called  in  five  regiments  of  minute-men  from  the 
nearest  towns  and  almost  as  many  more,  well  armed,  came  as 
volunteers,     lo  divert  the  attention  of  the  British,  a  heavy 
cannonade  and  bombardment  of  the  town  was  kept  up  durino- 
two  nights.     Soon  after  candle-hght  on  tlie  fourth  of  March 
tlie  tirmg  ^vas  renewed,  and  was  returnea  with  such  zeal  that 
a  continued  roar  of  cannon  and  mortars  was  heard  till  day- 
light.    As  It  began,  everj  aiing  was  ready.     Every  man  knee 
his  place,  and  the  need  of  acting  with  celerity  and  silence. 
Eight  hundred  m  ent  in  advance  as  a  guard,  one  half  of  them 
taking  post  on  the  height  nearest  Boston,  the  other  at  the 
easternmost  point,  opposite  the  castle.     They  were  followed 
by  carts  with  intrenching  tools,  and  by  the  working  party  of 
twelve  hundred,  under  the  command  of  Thomas,  an  officer 
whose  great  merit  on  this  occasion   is  the  more  to  be  re- 
membered from  the  shortness  of  his  career.     The  ground,  for 
eighteen  inches  deep,  was  frozen  too  hard  to  yield  earth  read- 
ily for  the  defences;  a  train  of  more  than  three  hundred  carts, 
easily  drawn  by  oxen  over  the  frozen  marshes,  brought  bun- 
dles of  screwed  hay,  to  form  a  cover  for  Dorchester  neck 
where  it  was  exposed  to  a  raking  lire,  and  an  amazing  quantity 
of _  gabions  and  fascines  and  chandehers  for  the  redonbts    The 
drivers,  as  they  goaded  on  their  cattle,  suppressed  their  voices. 


1776. 


ADVANCING  TOWARD  INDEPENDENCE. 


327 


The  temperature  of  the  night  was  most  favorable  for  out-door 
work  ;  the  haze  that  denotes  a  softening  of  the  air  hung  round 
the  base  of  the  ridge ;  above,  the  moon,  which  that  morning 
had  become  full,  was  shining  in  cloudless  lustre ;  hundreds  of 
men  toiled  in  stillness  with  an  assiduity  that  knew  nothing  of 
fatigiie;  the  teams  were  all  in  motion,  making  their  tour, 
some  three,  some  four  times ;  beneath,  in  the  town,  reposed 
the  Britisi.  general  without  special  watchfulness  or  fear ;  the 
crowd  of  ships  in  the  harbor  kept  their  watches  unsuspicious 
of  peril ;  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  emaciated,  pining,  and  as 
yet  little  cheered  by  hope,  trembled  lest  their  own  houses 
should  be  struck ;  the  people  that  were  left  in  the  villages 
around,  chiefly  women  and  children,  driven  from  their  beds  by 
the  rattling  of  their  windows,  could  watch  from  the  hill-tops 
the  flight  of  every  shell,  and  anxiously  waited  for  daybreak. 

At  about  three  in  the  morning  the  flrst  working  party 
was  relieved.  The  toil  was  continued  w^ith  fresh  energy,  so 
that  strong  redoubts,  secure  against  grape-shot  and  musket- 
ry, crowned  each  of  the  two  hills ;  an  abattis,  constructed 
of  trees  felled  in  the  neighboring  orchards,  protected  the 
foot  of  the  ridge ;  the  top  was  surrounded  by  barrels  filled 
with  earth  and  stones,  which,  as  the  hillsides  were  steep  and 
bare  of  trees  and  bushes,  were,  in  case  of  an  attack,  to  be  rolled 
down  against  the  assailing  columns.  At  dawn  on  the  fifth  the 
batteiies  on  both  sides  ceased  to  play,  and  a  fearful  quiet  pre- 
vailed. Howe,  as  he  saw  the  new  intrenchments  loom  in  im- 
posing strength,  reported  that  "  they  must  have  been  the  em- 
ployment of  at  least  twelve  thousand  men."  Some  of  his  offi- 
cers said :  "  Perhaps  there  never  was  so  much  work  done  in  so 
short  a  space  of  time,"  and  that  their  rising  as  at  a  word  re- 
called to  them  the  stories  in  eastern  romances  of  the  invisible 
agency  of  fairy  hands.  "  If  they  retain  possession  of  the 
heights,"  said  Admiral  Shuldham,  "  I  cannot  keep  a  ship  in 
the  harbor."  A  council  of  war  saw  no  choice  but  to  dislodge 
the  New  England  farmers.  Had  the  British  made  a  sally 
against  the  party  at  Dorchester,  the  Americans  had  floating 
batteries  and  boats  ready  to  carry  four  thousand  men  into  Bos- 
ton. Ilowe  put  twenty-four  hundred  men  under  the  command 
of  Lord  Percy  to  make  the  attack.     When  they  were  seen  to 


d: 


32S 


AMKi:U'A  Ainrs  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


I,  i 


Ki'.  iir. ;  OH.  XX. 
!:!!nH''t'  !''^V^T'''"'r'  ""  ''"  '>^"^'^t«,  expecting  a,,  i .ediato 

s  t  .e  h  (1,  „t  ^  arch,  a  <lay  r.ever  to  ho  for^^otten ;  avenge  Ihe 
doa  h  o  .yuia-  hrothrorJ'  Ih.t  P.rcy  took  Juh  trannport.  no 
jM-thc-r  than  the  (.ustlo;  in  the  afternoon  a  ^.ile  can.c  un  from 
the  south,  and  ahout  n.i.ini^d.t  .Irovo  two  or  throe  vos'ols  on 
^^lu.re;  ra.n  toll  in  lorrontn  on  tho  morning,  of  the  sixth;  a 
movomont  against  tho  An.orioan  linos  innnt  have  ond.-d  in  the 
'•.....  of  tho  l.nhsh  arn.y.  A  sooond  council  of  war  advised  tho 
instant  evacuation  ot  Iio.ston. 

Thoro  was  uo  tin.o  oven  to  propo.o  a  capitulation  for  the 
Kitety  ot  tho  roiun^oos,  and  the  best  that  could  l,o  ollered  them 
M^iSH  passa^i^o  hi  crowded  transports  from  tho  cherished  land 
of  then-  nativity  to  the  naked  slu>res  of  Nova  Scotia.  Tho 
^i>nt.sh  contesse.1  h.foro  tho  world  tlioir  inahility  to  protect 
hen-  Inends,  who  ],ad  risked  everything,  in  fheir  cause.  AVi^t 
trust  could  now  bo  repi.sod  in  their  promises  ^ 

On  tho  eiu;hth,  Howe,  throu.^^h  the  selectmen  of  Uoston 
w.shcd  to  come  to  an  understanding,  with  Washin^^ton  tliat  the 
town  s  oul<l   bo  spared   provided  ],e  nn.ht  k.;;  it  withou 

■  f  '";,  r  "'?''*''^'"^'-^->  P-l--i  could  n.eet  with  no 
upb  t.om  the  American  conunan..er-in-chiof ;  bnt,  from  want 
ot  ammumtum,  ho  M-as  oI>Ii,;ed  to  use  his  arlilierv  .parin^lv 
^v  ulo  Howe  was  hastening  Ins  embarkation.  A  chosen  EriU;i; 
.  nn.v,  sent  at  the  expense  of  more  than  a  million  pounds  ster- 
ng  to  correct  revoUed  subjects  and  assort  tho  authority  of  be 

r;;:::r""'^^'^"  '^'"^  '"^^"-'^-^^^  ^'>^  many  monh 
ni^ho  toun  tliey  were  to  ha.e  crushed,  found  no  safJty  but  in 

In  these  hours  tlie  ministry  had  hear.l  of  the  safety  of 
Quebec,  and  would  not  Jiearken  to  a  doubt  of  speedily  ciusli- 

tW  Lntish  secretary  ot  state  listened  to  Thavendanegea,  other 
wise  named  .]^>seph  Ilrant,  a  Mohawk,  of  tiio  Wolf  Mbo    he 
c^en  c  ue   of  the  confederacy  of  the  Six  Nations,  wl^:;,:' 
^  us        Lrother,  we  hope  to  see  those  bad  children,  the  Now 
England   people,  ehastise.l.      The   Indians  have  alv^iys  been 


to  mauilo.t  attachment  to  the  king,  and  bo  .sure  of  his 


fav 


or. 


i   f 


11 ;  a 


,1. » 


1770. 


ADVANCING  TOWAUD  INDEl'ENDKNCE. 


329 


"irncondltioiml  submission"  was  the  watcliword ;  and  wlieu 
on  the  ovcniiif;  of  the  same  day  tlie  (hike  of  (Jrafton  attempted 
once  more,  in  tlie  house  of  h)r(l«,  to  plead  for  conciHation, 
Dartmouth  approved  Hendin,(jj  over  "  a  Bu[hcient  force  to  awo 
the  colonies  into  suhmissicm  ;"  liillshorou^'h  would  "listen  to 
no  accommodation  short  of  the  acknowledgment  of  the  right 
of  taxation  and  the  suhmission  of  Massachusetts  to  the  law  for 
altering  its  charter;"  and  Afanslield,  ridiculing  the  idea  of 
suspending  hostilities,  laughed  moderate  counsels  away.  In 
the  laying  waste  which  was  a  ])art  of  the  jilan,  New  England 
was  to  be  spared  the  least. 

The  second  night  after  this  display  in  tlie  IJrltish  parlia- 
ment to  restrain  the  ministry  had  been  defeated,  Washington 
gained  possession  of  Nook  Hill,  and  with  it  the  i)ower  of  open- 
ing the  highway  from  Roxhury  to  Boston.  At  the  appearance 
of  this  work,  the  British  army  and  more  than  eleven  htmdred 
refugees  began  their  embarkation  at  four  in  the  morning,  and 
in  less  than  six  houns  were  put  on  board  one  hundred  and 
twenty  transports ;  l)efore  ten  they  were  under  way,  and  the 
citizens  of  Boston,  from  every  height  and  every  wJiai-f,  could 
see  the  llect  sail  out  of  the  harbor  in  a  line  extending  froiu 
the  castle  to  Nantasket  road. 

Tlu;  lives  of  Thacher  and  Mayhew  and  Dana  and  Moli- 
ncux  and  (^uincy  and  Gardner,  of  Wai-ren  and  the  martyrs  of 
Lexington,  (\)ncord,  and  Bunker  Tlill,  had  not  been  in  vain. 
The  ilight  had  been  so  i)recipitate  that  the  Ih-itish  general  was 
oblige(l  to  remain  several  days  in  Nantasket  road,  to  adjust  the 
ships  for  the  voyage.  Jle  was  still  within  sight  of  the  spires 
of  Boston,  when  a  ship-of-war  from  England  hailed  him,  and 
delivered  him  despatches  a])i)landing  th';  reasons  which  he  had 
given  for  not  leaving  Boston,  and  deprecating  its  evacuation. 

Troops  from  lioxbury  moved  into  Boston;  others  from 
Cambridge  crossed  in  boats.  Everywhere  appeared  marks  of 
hurry  in  the  ilight  of  the  Britisli;  among  other  stores,  they 
li'ft  ])ehind  tlu'ni  two  hundred  and  fifty  pieces  of  camion,  of 
M-hich  one  half  were  serviceal)le ;  twenty-live  hundred  chal- 
drons of  sea-coal ;  twenty-tlve  thousand  bushels  of  wheat;  three 
thousand  bushels  of  barley  and  oats;  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Lui-ses ;  bedding  and  clothing  for  soldiero.     British  store-ships, 


I 
I 


i    ;-' 


nl 


\   1 

.  , 

1        ' 
1   ,  1; 

1     ft ' 

:' 

1 

i 

h 

^i 


I  1 


'    i|; 


\-^  ^r 


J  ,.     I, 


t 

• 

II 

1 

n  3^ 


330 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOIl  SELF-DEFENCE. 


E''-  III.;  (11.  xx. 


i>Tionint  (.f  tlH>  retreat. 


HUeccsHivelj  entered  tlie  Inu'hor  with- 


out suspicion,  and  fell  into  the  hand.sof  the  A 
tliom  a  shij)  wliiel 


nacres,  and  all  sorts  of  tool 


nieneaiiH;  an 
I,  in  addition  to  carltines,  bayonets 


'>  ^ 


long 
irun-ear- 


s  necessary  for  artillety,  liad  on  hoard 
seven  times  as  nuieh  powder  as  Washin-rton's  whole 


x'ii'nn. 


i)i(»re  than 

stock  wliej)  liis  his^t  movement  was  I 

On  tlie  next  day  Wiushi:.-ton  ordm-d  live  of  Ids  1 
mcnts  to  niareh  inuler  Heath  to  New  York.     On  the  tw'eirti- 


)est  reiri- 


eth  tl 


10  main  body  of  tiiu  army  made  its  cntr 


,,        ,  .  •    ,  ^  ""  y  into  JJoston. 

toept  one  meetm-honse  and  a  few  wooden  huildiiun.  which 
had  been  nsed  for  fuel,  tlie  honses  were  left  in  a  i^^ood  condi- 
tion.     A\  hcMi,  two  day.s  later,  the  restrictions  on  \-nterconrse 
with  tlie  town  were  removed  and  the  exiles  and  their  friends 
streamed  m,  all  hearts  were  touched  at  "witnessing  the  tender 
interviews  and  fond  embraces  of  those  wlio  liad  been  h.n-  sepa- 
rated.      For  Washington,  crowded  welcomes  and  woTds  of 
gratitude  hung  on  the  faltering  tongues  of  the  liberate.!  inhabi- 
tants ;  the  selectmen  of  Boston  addressed  him  in  their  name  • 
"-Next  to  the  Divine  Power,  we  ascribe  to  your  wisdom  that 
this  acquisition  has  been  made  witii  so  little  effusion  of  liuinan 
blood;"  and  in  reply  he  paid  a  just  tribute  to  their  fortitude 
A\  hen  the  (piiet  of   a  M-eek  had  revived  ancient  usages, 
AVashmgton  attended  the  Thursday  lecture,  which  liad  been 
kept  up  from  the  days  of  AVinthrop  and  Wilson,  and  all  re- 
joiced with  exceeding  joy  at  seeing  this  ^nv  England  Zion 
once  more  a  cpiiet  habitation ;  they  called  it  "a  tabernacle  of 
M-Iuch  not  one  of  the  stakes  should  ever  be  removed,  nor  one 
of  the  cords  be  broken."     The  Puritan  ancestry  of  Massachu- 
setts seemed  holding  out  their  hands  to  bless  the  deliverer  of 
their  children. 

On  the  twenty-ninf^  the  two  l,ranches  of  the  legislature 
addressed  him  jointly,  w.elling  on  the  resi)ect  he  had  ever 
shown  to  their  civil  constitution,  as  well  as  on  liis  regard  for 
the  lives  and  health  of  all  under  his  command.  "  Go  on,"  said 
they,  "still  go  on,  approved  by  heaven,  revered  by  all' good 
men,  and  dreaded  by  tyrants;  may  future  generations,  in  the 
peaceful  enjoyment  of  that  freedom  which  your  sword  shall 
have  established,  raise  the  most  lasting  monuments  to  the  name 
of  AA  ashmgton."     And  in  his  answer  ho  renewed  his  pled-^e- 


1770, 


ADVANCING  TOWAKD  INDEPENDENCE. 


831 


of  "a  regard  to  evoi/  provincial  institution."  "When  tlio  con- 
tinental ccingresH,  on  the  motion  of  John  Adams,  voted  him 
thanks  ai:d  a  .'omnKinorative  medal  of  go'd,  he  modestly  trans- 
ferred their  [)raiseH  to  the  men  ol  his  conmiand,  saying:  "They 
>verc;  indeed,  at  first  a  hand  of  undisciplined  hushandmcn  ;  hut 
it  is,  under  (lod,  to  their  bravery  and  attention  to  duty  that  1 
am  indebted  for  that  success  which  has  i)r('cured  me  the  only 
rewai'd  I  wish  to  receive,  the  alfection  and  esteem  of  my  C(»uu- 
trymen.'" 

And  iKsvci"  was  so  great  a  I'esult  obtained  at  so  small  a  cost 
of  human  life.  The  ])utting  the  IJriti.di  army  to  flight  was  the 
first  decisive  victory  of  the  industrious  middling  class  over  tho 
most  powerful  repret^entative  of  the  mediseval  aristocracy,  and 
the  whole  mnnhcr  of  Nev;  England  men  killed  in  the  siege  of 
]>oston  after  Washington  took  the  connnand  was  less  than 
twenty;  tiie  liberation  of  New  England  cost  less  than  two 
hundred  lives  in  battle,  and  tho  triumphant  general  as  ho 
looked  around  enjoyed  the  scrcncst  delight,  for  he  saw  u>i 
mourners  among  those  who  greeted  his  entry. 

Till!  men  who  S(j  thoroughly  represented  t1  •  pco])le  of  tho 
civilized  world  had  shown  i)atience  as  well  n  lortitude.  liow 
long  they  waited,  and,  when  the  right  moment  came,  how 
bravely  they  n^se !  How  magnanimously  they  responded  to 
the  inward  voice  which  bade  them  claim  freedom  as  a  birth- 
right, and  dread  an  aecpiiescence  in  its  loss  as  a  violation  of  the 
])eacc  of  the  soul ! 

Eor  New  England  the  dependence  on  England  was  at  an 
end.  The  next  general  assembly  that  met  in  Kh(jde  Island,  on 
the  fourth  day  of  May  discharged  the  inhabitants  of  that  colo- 
ny fn^m  allegiance  to  tlio  king  of  Great  Britain  by  the  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  upper  house,  and  in  the  house  of  deputies, 
where  s'xty  were  present,  with  but  six  dissentient  voices. 


'iW 


m 


I 


'm 


li 


332 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    eimii.  ;  r„.  xxi. 


1 


1       f 


B^tj.  lit  ■ 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ACTS     OF     IXDi;i'K]SI)KXCE. 

Fkhuuaky-Ai'kil  1770. 

On  the  ninth  day  of  Febniaiy  John  Adams  liad  rosumod  liis 
seat  in  congress,  witli  Elhrido-e  Gerry  for  a  colleao-uo,  and  Avith 
instructions  f-oni  his  constitnents  to  estahhsh  Vihcrty  in  Amer- 
ica upon  a  permanent  basis.  He  was  in  the  hapi)iest  mood 
of  n.-ul,  for  the  in(kM)endeiK'e  of  liis  country  seemed  to  hhn 
so  hound  up  with  the  welfare  of  mankind  that  Providence 
could  not  suifer  its  defeat. 

Lookino-  into  himself,  he  saw  weaknesses  enough,  but  neither 
meanness  nor  dishonesty   nor  timidity.      Ovenveening  self- 
esteem  was  his  chief  bk-mish.     Ilaviiig  more  learning  tiiau 
Washington,  better  knowledge  of  freedcim  as  gromided  in  law 
than  Samuel  Adams,  clearer  insight  into  the  constructive  ele- 
ments of  government  than   Franklin,  moi-e   readiness  in  de- 
hate  than  Jelferson,  he  could  easily  fancy  himself  the  greatest 
of  them  all.    Ik-  was  cai)al)le  of  thinking  himself  the  centre  of 
any  circle  to  which  he  had  been  no  more  than  a  tano-ent ;  and 
in  age  vanity  sometimes  bewildered  his  memorv;  i)ut  it  did 
not  impair  the  integrity  of  his  conduct.     Jle  was  humane  and 
frank,  generous  and  clement;  if  he  could  never  sit  placidly 
under  the  shade  of  a  greater  reputation  than  his  own,  his  envy 
had  hardly  a  tinge  of  malignity.     He  went  to  his  task,  sturdy 
and  cheery  and  brave;  he  was  the  hammer  and  n(.t  the  anvil, 
and  it  was  f..r  otliers  to  shrink  from  his  blows.     His  courage 
was  untlinching  in  debate,  and  everywhere  else;    ho  never 
knew  what  fear  was.     To  his  latest  old  age  he  saw  ten  times 
as  much  jileaoure  as  i)ain  in  the  world,  and  was  ready  to  betrin 


life 


anew  and  light  its  battle  over  a< 


am. 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


333 


lu  ]jiis  youth  ho  foil  among  slccptics,  read  Bo  Jigbroke's 
■works  tivo  tiiiios  tliroiigli,  and  osteonied  liiinself  a  profound 
incta])]iyriician,  hut  lie  had  oidy  skhninod  tlio  specula'aons  of 
others;  though  at  iirst  destined  to  bo  a  uuni.stor,  ho  bocanio  a 
rebel  to  Calvinism,  and  never  had  any  lixed  religious  creed. 
For  all  that,  ho  wari  a  stanc-li  man  of  Now  England,  and  his 
fond  partiality  to  its  people,  its  institutions,  its  social  ':;ondi- 
tion,  and  its  laws,  followed  him  into  congress  and  its  coTunut- 
teos,  tinctured  his  judgment,  and  clinched  his  })i'opossessions ; 
but  the  elements  in  JS'ew  England  that  ho  loved  most  were 
those  Mhich  wore  eminently  friendly  to  universal  culture  and 
republican  ccpiality.  ISon  of  a  small  freeholder,  bent  on  mak- 
ing his  way  in  the  world,  at  twenty  years  old  beginning  to  earn 
his  own  broiid,  pinched  and  starved  as  master  of  a  "■litingy" 
country  school,  he  formed  early  habits  of  order  and  frugiility, 
and  steadily  advanced  to  fortune ;  but  there  was  nothing  nig- 
gardly in  Ids  thrift,  and  his  modest  hospitality  was  promjit  and 
hearty,  lie  loved  homage,  and  to  those  who  Hatterod  him  he 
gave  his  coniidenco  freely,  and  often  unwisely;  and,  while  he 
Avatchod  the  general  movement  of  alTairs  v;ith  comprehensive 
sagacity,  he  was  never  a  calm  observer  of  individual  men.  Of 
tlm  cholei'ic  temperament  and  <,)f  a  large  and  compact  frame, 
he  was  singularly  se.isitive ;  could  break  out  into  uncontrollable 
rage,  and  never  learned  to  rule  his  own  spirit ;  Init  his  anger 
did  not  so  nuich  drive  him  to  do  wrong  as  to  do  right  ungra- 
ciously. No  man  was  less  fitted  to  gain  his  end  by  arts  of  in- 
direction ;  he  knew  not  how  to  intrigue,  was  indiscreetly  talka- 
tive, and  almost  thought  aloud;  his  ways  of  courting  su])port 
were  uncouth,  so  that  ho  made  few  friends  ex(!e])t  by  his 
weight  of  characti'r  and  integrity ;  and  he  was  unapt  as  the 
loader  of  a  pai'fy. 

Hating  intolerance  in  all  its  forms,  loving  civil  liberty  as 
the  glory  of  man  and  the  best  evidence  and  the  best  result  of 
civilization,  he,  of  all  in  congress,  was  incomparable  as  a  dog- 
matist ;  essentially  right-ndnded  ;  loving  to  teach  with  authori- 
ty; pressing  onward  unsparingly  wirh  his  argument;  impa- 
tient of  contradiction;  unecpiallcd  as  a  positive  champion  of 
the  right;  compelled  to  utter  his  convictions  fearlessly  by  an 
inborn  energy  which  forbade  his  acting  otherwise.     He  was 


t  I* 


!  I 


I'*  «' 


1 

1    1 

i    r 

i 

.     1 

I 

■IF 

334         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  Ill,  ;  cil.  XXI. 


now  too  mucli  in  earnest  and  too  mucli 
ncss  of  ]  ' 


aid  to  d 


us  work,  to  think  of  himself;  too 
th 


engaged  by  the  great- 


anxiouslj  desiriuf 


_        lisparage  tiiose  M-ho  gave  it.     In  the  fervor  ux  ms  ac- 
tiyiy,  Ins  fanlts  disappeared.     Hi.  intellect  and  pnblic  spirit, 
all  the  noblest  parts  of  his  natin-e,  were  called  into  the  fnllest 
exercise.    Combining,  more  than  any  other,  far-sightedness  and 
hxednessof  behef  witli  courage  and  power  of  utterance,  he  was 
locked  up  to  as  the  ablest  debater  in  congress.    He  was  redun- 
dant m  words  and  cmnulative  in  argmnent ;  but  his  warmth 
an.l  smcenty  kept  him  from  the  alFectations  of  a  pedant  or  a 
rhetorician      forbearance  was  no  longer  in  season;  the  irre- 
pressible talent  of  persevering,  peremptory  assertion  was  want- 
ed ;  tlio  more  he  was  hurried  along  by  his  own  vehement  will, 
the  better;  now  his  country,  humanity,  the  age,  the  hour,  de- 
manded that  the  right  should  be  spoken  out.    Ilis  sagacity  rose 
with  the  approach  of  danger,  and  he  dared  to  inquire  after  the 
system  ol  permanent  government  best  suited  to  the  colonies 
He  looked  tor  the  essential  elements  of  government  behind  its 
forms.     lie  studied  the  principles  of  the  British  constitution 
not  merely  in  the  history  of  England,  but  as  purified  and  re- 
produced 111  the  governments  of  New  England,  and  as  analyzed 
and  reilected  m  the  writings  of  JMontesquieu.     "  A  legislative 
an  executive,  and  a  judicial  power  comprehended  the  whole 
of  what  he  meant  and  understood  by  government;"  and,  as 
the  only  secret  to  be  discovered  was  how  to  derive  these  powers 
directly  from  the  people,  he  persuaded  himself,  and  .vas  fast 
persuading  others,  that,  by  the  aid  of  a  convention,  -a  sin-do 
month  was  suthcient,  without  tlie  least  convulsion  or  even  ani- 
mosity, to  accompli.sh  a  total  revolution  in  the  government  of 
a  colony. '     Ihs  warmth  and  positiveness  had  not  the  air  of 
passion    but  appeared,  as  it  was,  the  clear  perception  of  his 
task.     When,  in  the  life  „f  a  statesman,  were  six  months  of 
more  miportance  to  the  race  than    these  six  months  in  the 
career  ot  John  Adams? 

On  resuming  his  seat,  he  found  a  less  able  delegation  from 
bouth  Carolina.  In  zeal  and  decision  Chase  of  Maryland  kept 
always  ahead  of  his  friends.  That  province  had  wisJied  to  pie- 
scTve  Its  lu-oprietary  system,  bnt  only  so  far  as  was  consistent 
with  the  unwavering  resoh.tion  te  resist  to  the  last  the  usurj.a- 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  IXDEPEXDENOE. 


335 


IS  ac- 


tions of  parliament.  The  members  of  congress  listened  with 
impatience  to  Wilson  wlien,  on  tlie  thirteenth  of  February, 
from  his  committee  appointed  the  day  after  the  publication  of 
"Common  Sense,"  he  presented  a  long  draft  of  an  address  to 
their  constituents,  in  which  they  were  made  to  disclaim  the 
idea  of  renouncing  their  allegiance  ;  and  its  author,  perceiving 
that  the  majority  relished  neither  its  style  nor  its  counsel,  al- 
lowed it  to  subside  without  a  vote. 

On  the  sixteenth  the  great  measure  of  enfranchising 
American  commerce  was  sei-iously  considered.  "Open  your 
ports,"  said  a  member ;  "  your  trade  will  then  become  of  so 
much  consequence  that  foreigners  will  protect  you."  "In 
war,"  argued  Wilson,  "  trade  should  be  carried  on  with  greater 
vigor  than  ever,  after  tlie  manner  of  the  United  Provinces  in 
their  struggle  against  iipalw  Tlie  merchants  themselves  nnist 
judge  of  the  risks.  Our  vessels  and  our  seamen  are  all  abroad, 
and,  unless  we  open  our  ports,  will  not  return."  Sherman 
wished  first  to  secure  a  protective  treaty  with  a  foreign  power. 
Harrison  said  more  explicitly :  "  We  have  hobbled  on  under  a 
fatal  attachment  to  Great  JJritain  ;  I  felt  that  attachment  as 
much  as  any  man,  but  I  feel  a  stronger  one  to  my  country." 
George  Wythe  took  the  lead.  A  learned  and  able  lawyer,' he 
cultivated  poetry  and  letters ;  not  rich,  he  was  above  want ;  in 
his  habits  he  was  as  abstemious  as  an  ascetic ;  his  manners  Lad 
the  mirthfulness  of  innocence.  Genial  and  loving,  he  l)lend» 
gentleness  Avith  unswerving  obedience  to  the  law  of  duty. 
From  ITT-i  his  views  coincided  with  those  of  Jetferson;  and 
his  artless  simplicity  of  character,  his  legal  erudition  and 
acuteness,  added  persuasion  to  his  words  :  "  It  is  too  true  our 
ships  may  l/O  taken  ;  but  we  may  authorize  vessels  to  arm,  and 
s\e  may  give  lettei-s  of  inarque  and  reju-isai.  We  may  invite 
foreign  i)owers  to  make  treaties  of  conunerce  with  us  ;  but, 
before  this  measure  is  adopted,  it  is  to  be  considered  in  what 
character  we  shall  treat.  As  sulnects  of  Great  Britain?  as 
rebels  ?  No  :  we  must  declare  ourselves  a  free  peoi)le."  With 
this  e\i)lanati(>n  ho  moved:  "That  the  colonies  have  a  right 
to  contract  alliances  with  fonigri  powers."  "This  is  inde- 
pendence," said  an  objector.  The  (piestlon  wheth  r  the  reso- 
lution should  be  considered  was  adopted  by  seven  colonies 


'>     < '  I 


,    I' 


I 


s     }- 


•  i  ■ '  I  ■  ' 


33(5  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    kp.  .... ;  en.  xxi. 

agiiiiist  five ;  l)ut  the  dehate  on  opening  the  ])orts  was  prolon<red 
tlirough  seven  weeks  of  liesitatioii.  '^ 

On  tlie  day  of  this  discnssion  tlio  assonihly  of  Pennsjl- 
vania  formed  a  quorum.  It  still  retpiired  of  its  mendjcrs 
tlie  profession  of  allegiance  to  King  (ieorge;  Franklin  liad 
therefore  never  taken  his  seat  and  now  resigned  it. 

Washington's  advice  to  enlist  soldieis  for  the  war,  and  the 
solenmity   Avith   which   it   was  enforced,   arrested    attention. 
Samuel  Adams  jiropcscd  to  take  up  the  question  of  length- 
ening the  period  of  eidistment*     Ihit  opposition  to  a  stand- 
ing army  had  long  been  the  watcliword  of  liberty;  the  New 
England  colonies  had   from  their   beginniTig  been  defended 
by  their  own  militia;  in  tlie  last  French  war,  trooi)s  had  been 
called  out  only  for  the  swuson.     "  K.distment  for  a  long  pe- 
nod,"  said  Sherman,  "  is  a  state  of  slavery;  a  rotation  of' ser- 
vice in  arms  is  favorable  to  liberty."     "'l  am  in  favor  of  the 
propositi.)n  to  raise  men  for  the  war,"  said  John  Adams;  *'  but 
not  to  depcTid  ui)ou  it,  as  men  nuist  be  averse  to  it,  and  the  wiu- 
may  last  ten  yeai-s."    England  was  sending  over  veteran  armies ; 
and  they  were  to  bo  met  by  sokliers  engaged  o»dy  for  a  year.  ' 
^  The  debate  branched  off  into  a  discussion  on  the  pay  "of 
officers,  respecting  which  the  frugal  statesmen  of  the  North 
dilfered  from  those  of  the  South ;  John  Adams  thought  the 
democratic  tendency  of  New  England  less  dangerous  tlian  the 
aristocratic  teiulency  elsewhere.     Danger  hung  visibly  over 
every  ])art  of  tli(>  coimtry ;   oti  the  twenty-seventh  the  five 
middle  colonies  from  New  York  to  IMaryland  were  constituted 
one  military  department ;  the  four  south  of  the  ]\)tomac,  an- 
other ;  and,  on  the  first  of  ]\[areh,  six  new  generals  of  brigade 
were  app.)inted.     Tti  the  selection  for  Virginia  tliere  Avas  diffi- 
culty; the  prevailing  opinion  recalled  Patrick  Henry  to  civil 
life;  in  the  judgment  of  Washington,  "  ]\rercer  would  have 
sui>plied  the  place  well;"  but  the  choice  fell  upon  Andrew 
Lewis,  who  still  sullVred  from  "the  odium  thrown  upon  his 
conduct  at  Kanawha,"  where  lie  had  lingered  in  his  camp, 
while  the  officore  and  men  whom  he  s-nt  forth,  with  fearless 
gallantry  and  a  terrible  loss  of  life,  shed  lustre  over  Virginia. 
In  less  than  a  year  congress  forced  Lewis  to  resign,  by  pro- 
moting an  inferior  officer  over  liis  head. 


'  i! 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


337 

^  To  meet  the  expenses  of  the  war,  four  millions  of  dollars 
m  hills  were  ordered  to  be  struck ;  which,  with  six  millions 
already  issued,  would  torm  a  paper  currency  of  ten  millions 
A  few  days  later  a  committee  of  seven,  including  Duaiie  and 
Kobert  Morris,  Avas  appointed  on  the  ways  and  means  of  raisino- 
other  supplies  for  the  year ;  hut  they  never  so  much  as  made  a 
report.  A  like  committee  was  appointed,  continued,  and  en- 
larged ;  and  their  labors  were  equally  fniitless.  Congress  had 
neither  credit  to  borrow  nor  power  to  tav. 

Congress  was  about  to  send  commissioners  to  Canada,  and 
their  instructions,  reported  by  John  Adams,  Wythe,  and  Sher- 
man, contained  this  clause  :  "  You  are  to  declare  that  it  is  our 
inclination  that  the  people  of  Canada  may  set  up  such  a  form 
of  government  as  will  be  most  likely  in  their  judgment  to 
produce  their  happiness."    This  invitation  to  the  Canadians 
to  form  a  government  without  any  limitation  of  time  was,  for 
three  or  four  hours,  resisted  by  Jay  and  others,  on  the  gromid 
that  It  "was  an  independency;"  but  the  words  were  adopted. 
Jiarly  in  the  month  congress  received  the  act  of  parliament 
prohibiting  all  trade  with  the  thirteen  colonies,  and  confiscating 
their  ships  and  effects  as  if  they  were  the  ships  and  effects  of 
open  enemies.     The  first  instinct  was  to  retaliate  ;  and  on  the 
eighteenth,  after  an  able  debate,  privateers  were  authorized  to 
cruise  against  ships  and  their  cargoes,  belonging  to  any  inhabi- 
tant  o±  Crreat  Britain,  though  not  of  Ireland  or  the  West  In- 

a'^V^'V""^::  ^^  '"  ^''"  England,  New  York,  Virginia, 
and  J>(orth  Carolina,  against  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 

^  On  the  nineteenth,  Wythe,  with  Jay  and  Wilson,  was  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  preamble  to  the   resolutions.      Wythe 
found  himself  in  a  minority  in  the  committee;  and  when  on 
the  twenty-second,  he  presented  their  report,  ho  moved  an 
amendment,  charging  the  king  himself  with  their  grievances 
inasmuch  as  he  had  "  rejected  their  petitions  with  scorn  and 
contempt."     This   was   new  ground  ;   hitherto  congress  had 
disclaimed  the  authority  of  ])arliament,  not  allegiance  to  the 
crown.      Jay,  Wilson,  and  Johnson  opposed  the  amendment 
as  severing  the  king  from  the  thirteen  colonies  forever-  it 
was  supi)orted  by  Richard  Henry  Lno.,  who  seconded  it  'by 
Chase,  Sergeant  of  A^ew  Jersey,  and  Harrison.     At  the 'end 

VOL.  IV. — 22 


t.i 


( 


'*: 


t    ' 


I 


I    I: 


(I, 


:'- 1;  - !' 

1 

t 

1 

t 

■■] 

ii 

^ 

[ 

SC:         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ep.  hi.  ;  on,  xxi. 

ot  four  lioiirs  Maryland  interposed  and  put  olE  tlic  decision 
for  a  day  ;  but  on  the  twenty-third  the  language  of  Wytho  was 
accepted. 

"  From  tlieir  form  of  government  and  steady  attachment 
heretofore  to  royalty,"  wrote  Washington  at  this  time  of  the 
yirgim'ans,  "  niy  countrymen  will  come  reluctantly  into  the 
idea  of  independency;  but  time  and  persecution  bring  wonder- 
ful things  to  pass."     The  question  of  opening  the  ports,  after 
having  been  for  months  the  chief  su1)ject  of  deliberation,  was 
diseuss(id  through  all  the  next  fortnight.     One  kind  of  traffic 
which  the  European  maritime  powers  still  encouraged  was  ab- 
solutely forbidden,  not  from  i)olitical  reasons  mereb-,  but  from 
a  conviction  of  its  unrighteousness  and  cruelty  ;  and,  wiiiiout 
any  Hmitation  as  to  time  or  any  reservation  of  n  veto  to  the 
respective  colonies,  it  was  resolved  "  that  no  slaves  be  imported 
into  any  of  the  thirteen  united  colonies."      The  --rohibition 
made,  moreover,  a  revolution  in  the  state  of  the  black  men 
already  in  America  ;  from  a  body  of  laborers,  perpetually  r.  • 
cruited  from  Iwrbarous  African  tribes,  they  were  transformed 
into  an  insulated  class,  living  in  a  state  of  domesticity,  and 
receiving  culture  and  employment  from  a  superior  race.     It 
^yas  then  hoped,  especially  in  Virginia,  that  the  total  prohibi- 
tion of  the  slave-trade  would,  at  no  very  distant  day,  be  fol- 
lowed by  universal  emancipation. 

The  first  who  is  known  to  have  suggested  that  negroes 
might  be  emancipated,  and  a  "  public  i^rovision  be  made  to 
transport  them  to  Africa,  where  they  might  probably  live  bet- 
ter than  in  any  other  country,"  was  Sanmel  Hopkins  of  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  a  theologian,  who  taught  that,  "  through 
divme  interposition,  sin  is  an  advantage  to  the  universe ; "  a 
firm  believer  in  the  coming  of  the  millennium  ;  a  theorist  who 
held  virtue  to  require  not  merely  disinterested  love,  but  a  love 
that  i.  willing  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  self.     Writing  in  a  town 
^\•hlch  had  grown  rich  by  the  slave-trade,  he  addressed  a  me- 
morial to  the  meml)ers  of  the  body  representing  the  United 
States,  "  entreating  them  to  be  the  happy  instruments  of  pro- 
curing  and  establishing  universal  liberty  to  white  and  black, 
to  be  transmitted  down  to  the  latest  posterity."     His  ar<>u- 
nient  obtained  no  notice  from  the  continental  congress.       "^ 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


330 


aft 


er 


The  slave-trade  liaving  hcon  denied  to  be  a  legitimate  traf- 
fic and  having  been  branded  as  a  crime  against  humanity,  on 
the  sixth  of  A])ril  the  tliirteen  colonies  threw  open  their  com- 
merce t  .  all  the  world,  "not  subject  to  tlio  king  of  Great 
Eritain."    The  colonial  system  was  swept  away  from  them  for- 
ever, and  the  flag  of  every  nation  invited  to  their  harbors. 
On  the  twenty-eighth  of  February  the  committee  of  corre- 
spondence of  Pliiladelphia,  against  the  wish  of  Joseph  Reed 
tlieir  chairman,  wisely  resolved  to  call  a  convention  of  the 
people.    The  proprietary  interest  by  the  instinct  of  self-preser- 
vation repelled  the  tliought  of  independence,  complained  that 
to  save  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  they  were  called  upon  to 
sacriiice  their  own,  and  persuaded  the  committee  of  correspond- 
ence to  suspend  its  call.     Dickinson  urged  upon  every  individ- 
ual and  every  l)ody  of  men  over  whom  he  had  any  influence 
the  necessity  of  making  terms  of  accommodation  with  Great 
Britain.     Inglis,  for  a  time  rector  of  the        w  York  Trinity 
church  and  afterward  bishop  of  Nova  Scutia,  extolled  him 
as  the  ilhistrious  defender  of  the  constitution  against  the  siren 
form  of  independence. 

Robert  Morris,  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  in  part  by 
education,  a  merchant  of  vast  designs,  speculative,  and  inde- 
fatigable in  pursuit  of  gain,  had  "no  doubt  that  with  union 
the  colonies  could  at  their  pleasure  choose  between  a  reconcili- 
ation and  total  independence ; "  but,  if  the  liberties  of  Amer- 
ica could  not  otherwise  be  secured,  he  Avas  ready  lo  renounce 
the  connection  with  Great  Britain  and  light  his  M'ay  through. 

^  To  moderate  opposition,  the  assembly,  acting  with  the  pro- 
prietary governor,  increased  the  popular  representation  by 
seventeen  new  members,  of  whom  four  were  allowed  to  Phila- 
dci]>]iia;  consented  to  raise  three  battalions;  extended  condi- 
tionally the  period  of  enlistment  to  the  end  of  1777  by  the 
casting  vote  of  its  speaker ;  and  ordered  eighty-live  thousand 
pounds  to  be  struck  in  bills  of  credit.  Then,  on  the  sixth 
of  April,  after  a  long  debate,  the  delegates  for  the  province 
in  congress  were  once  more  enjoined  to  dissent  from  and 
utterly  reject  any  proposition  that  might  lead  to  a  separation 
from  tlie  mother  country  or  a  change  of  the  pro])rietary  gov- 
ernment. 


i      I 


■   ! 


I 


i      I 


I: 


■I  \l 


I 


840        AMERICA   ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.    k,m„.  ;  ci.  xxi. 

Thfs  was  the  result  which  Dickinson  desired ;  but  Eobert 
Morns  asked,  uneasily:  "  If  these  commissioner;  are  to  come 
what  detains  them  ?  It  is  time  we  should  be  on  a  certainty  "  ' 
Buane  of  New  York,  who,  like  Robert  Morris,  was  pre- 
pared  for  extreme  measures  if  the  British  proposition  should 
prove  oppressive  or  frivolous,  "  waited  for  the  expected  i)ropo- 
sitions  with  painful  anxiety." 

This  waiting  for  commissioners  Samuel  Adams  treated  with 
scorn.  ^  Early  in  April  his  words  were:  "Is  not  America  al- 
ready independent  i    Why  not,  then,  declare  it?    Because,  say 
some.  It  will  forever  shut  the  door  of  reconciliation.     But 
Britain  will  not  be  reconciled,  except  upon  our  abjectly  sub- 
mitting to  tyranny,  and  asking  and  receiving  pardon  for  re- 
sisting it.     lias  the  king  of  Great  Britain  ever  yet  discovered 
the  least  degree  of  that  princely  virtue,  clemency?     It  is  my 
opinion  that  his  heart  is  more  obdurate,  and  his  disposition 
toward  the  people  of  America  more  unrelenting  and  malig- 
nant than  was  that  of  Pharaoh  toward  the  Israelites  in  Egypt 
JNo  foreign  power  can  consistently  yield  comfort  to  rebels,  or 
enter  into  any  kind  of  treaty  with  these  colonies,  till  they  de- 
clare themselves  independent." 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  same  month  John  Adams 
wrote  to  his  wife:  "We  are  hastening  rapidly  to  great  events. 
Governments  muII  be  up  everywhere  before  midsummer,  and 
an  end  to  royal  style,  titles,  and  authority.  May  God  in  his 
providence  overrule  the  mighty  revolution  for  the  good  of 
mankind."  Yet  Dickinson  and  others,  among  whom  were 
Wu  jam  Livingston  of  New  Jersey  and  the  elder  Laurens  of 
boutli  Carohna,  wished  to  wait  for  an  alliance  with  the  king  of 
I'  ranee.  ° 

The  mariners  of  Marblehead  reasoned  better,  learning  the 
lesson  of  duty  from  the  impulse  of  patriotism  and  the  neces- 
sity of  action.  On  the  seventeenth  of  Mav,  James  Mugford, 
a  iNlarblehead  sea-captain,  in  a  continental  cruiser  of  but  fifty 
tons  and  four  guns,  captured  and  brought  into  Boston  harbor 
the  British  ship  Hope,  which  had  on  board  fifteen  hundred 
barrels  of  powder.  This  cargo  made  her  the  most  valuable 
prize  that  had  been  taken.  When,  two  days  later,  he  prepared 
to  go  out  again,  he  wa-s  attacked  at  Nantasket  by  thirteen  boats 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


341 


from  a  British  man-of-war.  Ilk  assailants  suffered  great  loss 
and  were  ])eaten  off,  while  no  one  of  the  Americans  was  hurt 
except  Mugford,  who  fought  heroically,  and  was  mortally 
wounded. 

The  seeming  attempt  of  the  ministry  at  conciliation,  which 
had  for  its  chief  object  the  pacification  of  English  opinion,  was 
suffered  to  drag  along  till  the  news  that  Howe  had  been  driven 
from  Boston  precipitated  their  counsels. 

The  letters-patent  for  the  commissioners,  which  were  issued 
on  the  sixth  of  May,  confen-ed  power  on  Lord  Howe  and  Gen- 
eral Howe,  the  commanders-in-chief  of  the  naval  and  land 
forces  in  America,  jointly  and  severally,  to  grant  pardons  to 
such  as  should  give  early  proofs  of  their  sincere  abhorrence  of 
iheir  defection  from  loyalty,  and  should  sue  for  mercy.     The 
two  points  in  controversy  were  the  right  of  pariiainent  to  tax 
the  colonics  and  its  right  to  change  their  charters.    Lord  North 
used  to  say  publicly  that  the  right  of  taxation  was  abandoned ; 
Gemiain  always  asserted  that  it  was  not.    North  was  willing 
to  restore  the  charter  of  Massachusetts ;  the  king  wished  rather 
to  renounce  America.     The  instructions  to  the  commissioners 
were  founded  upon  the  resolution  of  the  twentieth  of  Febru- 
ary 1775,  which  the  colonies  had  declared  to  be  insufficient. 
The  ])arliamentary  change  in  the  charter  of  Massachusetts 
was  to  be  enforced  ;  and  secret  instnictions  required  that  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode  Island  should  be  compelled,  if  possible, 
to  accept  analogous  changes.     It  was  said  by  the  authority  of 
Lord  Howe  that  he  would  not  go  to  America  unless  he  had 
powers  to  treat  on  terms  of  conciliation ;  and  he  required  and 
obtained  permission  to  act  alone ;  but,  if  his  sincerity  is  left 
unimpeached,  it  is  at  the  expense  of  his  reputation  for  discern- 
ment ;  for  the  commission  for  restoring  peace  was  a  delusion. 
The  ministers  had  provided  forces  sufficient,  as  they  firmly 
believed,  to  beat  down  the  insurrection.    Edmund  Burke  did 
not  believe  that  the  colonies,  left  to  themselves,  could  offer 
any  effective  resistance  to  the  whole  power  of  England  and  its 
allies. 

The  friends  of  liberty  in  England  had  never  been  so  de- 
sponding. The  budget  for  the  year  included  an  additional 
duty  on  newspapers,  which  Lord  North  regarded  as  "  a  species 


i':; 


III 


1 

^^^1 

1^^| 

! 

:  ^M 

^^H 

1 

^^^^1 

! :  !■: 

'.    :li^^H 

f 

t! 

..    '       !■ 

1 

•k 

iii 

'11 

«     1      ! 

343         A^fEPJCA  AKMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 

of  luxury  tl.at  ought  to  l,e  taxed."     Debate  in  ti.e  1 


comniona  brought  no  result;  Fox,  who  bej-an  to 


of 


a  L^enuil  mm 


EP.  m. ;  err.  xxt. 

louso  of 
give  evidence 


reality  of  m'neial 


acity  tliat  saw  beyond  i)arliauieutary  strife  tl 


]>rinciples,  vaiidy  stnimrjed  to  1 


10 


fop  up  the 


courage  o    ius  political  frien<ls.     A  .nost  ably  written  pa.n- 
phlet  by  Iv.chard  J>rice,  on  '^  Liberty,"  which  he  defined  to  be 
a  government  of  Jaws  made  by  connnon  consent,  uon  for  its 
author  the  freedom  of  the  city  of  London,  and  was  widely 
cn-cnlatcd  through  the  kingdom  and  the  continent  of  Europe 
especially  Gennany.     His  „,a,terly  plea  for  America  was  L 
avaihng;  but  his  tract  gained  peculiar  importance  froni  his 
applying  to  the  representation  of  his  own  conntry  the  i,rinci- 
ple  on  which  America  justitied  her  resistance.     "  The  time 
may  come,"  said  he,  "when  a  general  election  in  Britain  will 
be  nothing  but  a  general  auction  of  boi-oughs."     Cari-yin^  the 
wa..  Hito  the  heart  of  English  politics  and  society,  he  raised 
the  cry  lor  the  retorm  in  pai-liaiiient  which  was  never  to  be 
luisiied,  and  transferred  English  opinion  to  the  side  of  Ajiicri- 
ca  for  the  sake  of  that  liberty  which  was  of  all  things  dearest 
to  the  English  nation. 

I'Ut  what   hope  was  there  of  reform   in  Euirland  ^    Its 
nilmg  classes  prepared  reform  by  forcing  independence  on 

The  dayonAvhich  George  III.  sealed  the  instructions  to 
his  commissioners  congress  decided  to  adopt  no  measures  for 
receiving  them  until  they  should  themselves  make  application 
to  be  received,  and  voted  to  raise  ten  millions  of  dollars  for 
carrying  on  the  war  during  the  current  year.     They  then  took 
into  consideration  the  proposition  (,f  John  Adams,  that  -each 
one  of  the  united  colonies,  where  no  govei-nmeiit  sullicient  to 
the  exigencies  of  their  affairs  had  as  yet  been  established, 
should  adopt  such  government  as  would,  in  the  oj.inion  of  the 
representatives  of  the  peo])le,  best  conduce  to  the  hapmness 
and  safety  of  their  constituents  in  particular  and  of  America 
m  general  '     This  measure  he  had  advised  twelve  months 
before,  and  the  timid  had  kept  it  back  in  order  still  to  petition 
and  negotiate  ;  it  M-as  now  resisted  through  two  successive 
days,  but  cm  the  tenth  of  May  t-iumnhed  over  all  procrasti- 
nators.     John  Adams,  Edward  Eutledge,  and  Kiehard  Ilenrv 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


3i3 


Lee  wore  then  appointed  to  prepare  a  preaTihlc  to  tlie  rcsoln- 
tion.  Loe  and  Adams,  JVIassachusetts  and  Virginia,  were  of 
one  mind  ;  and  on  tlie  following  Monday  they  made  then- 
report.  Ilecailing  the  act  of  parliament  which  exclnded  tho 
Americans  from  the  protection  of  the  crown,  the  king's  neglect 
to  return  any  answer  whatever  to  their  petition,  the  employ- 
ment of  "■  the  whole  force  of  the  kingdom,  aided  hy  f<jreign 
mercenaries,  for  the  destruction  of  the  good  people  of  these 
colonies,"  they  declared  that  it  was  "  ahsolutely  irreconcilable 
with  reason  and  good  conscience  for  the  people  of  these  colo- 
nies now  to  take  the  oaths  and  affinnations  necessary  for  the 
support  of  any  government  under  tho  crown  of  Great  Britain, 
and  that  it  was  necessary  that  tlie  exercise  of  every  kind  of 
authority  under  the  crown  should  be  totally  suppressed,  and 
all  the  powers  of  government  exerted  under  the  authority  of 
the  people  of  the  colonies." 

These  words,  which  bore  the  impress  of  John  Adams,  im- 
plied the  sovereignty  of  one  continental  people,  a  comi)lete 
independence  of  the  British  ])arliament,  crown,  and  nation. 
It  was  a  blow  dealt  by  the  general  congress  against  the  pro- 
prietary government  of  Pennsylvania.  Duane  sounded  the 
alarm ;  before  -hanging  the  government  of  the  colonies,  he 
wished  to  wait  for  the  opinions  of  the  inhabitants,  who  were  to 
be  followed  and  not  driven  on.  He  showed  that  the  powers 
conferred  on  him  by  New  i'ork  did  not  justify  him  in  voting 
for  the  measure  without  a  breach  of  trust ;  and  yet,  if  the  aver- 
ments of  the  preamble  should  be  confimned,  lie  pledged  New 
York  to  independence.  Sherman  argued  that  the  adoption  of 
the  resolution  was  the  best  way  to  procure  the  harmony  with 
Great  Britain  which  New  York  desired.  l\[ackean,  who  repre- 
sented Delaware,  thought  the  step  must  be  taken,  or  liberty, 
property  and  life  be  lost.  ''  The  iirst  object  of  New  York,"  said 
Samuel  Adams,  ''  is  the  establishment  of  theh  rights.  Our  pe- 
titions are  answered  only  by  fleets  and  armies  and  myrmidons 
from  abroad.  The  king  has  thrown  us  out  of  his  protection ; 
why  should  we  support  governments  nnder  his  authority?" 
Floyd  of  New  York  was  persuaded  "that  there  were  little 
or  no  hopes  of  commissionei's  coming  to  treat  of  peace ;  that 
therefore  Anieriea  ought  to  be  in  a  situation  to  ja'cscrvc  her 


II 


t  i 


I  J} 


:li 


'       f 


i  i\- 


mv-[ 

, 

' 

i  .' 

^K  h ,/ 

844         AMKUICA  AltHS  ron  SELF-DEFENCE,     Kn.  ,„. ;  c„.  zi,. 
libortics  an„H,c.r  waj."     "Tl.k  preamble  c,.ntai.«  a  rcflec- 

wlKcl,  «„    atua«  I.t.|,r„a,-y  had  rciuirod  rf  Koed  and  PUtuJ 
lioiK  „atl«  „t  allcgiauoo  to  the  ki„g.     "If  tlie  r:v,u..l,l„ 
ims^es      J.e  e„.,tim,e<l,  "ti.ere  will  he  an  inm.edia..   dis^^'u- 
tw,i  of  evei7  kiu.l  of  authority  in  this  |,rovi„ee ;  t'       ,. ,   1. 
«1  he  ,„».„„tly  i„  a  .tate  of  nature.    Jieforo  we  Lm  i,,'     ,  d 
to  budd    he  new  house,  why  should  we  puU  dov„  tl'  .Id 
one?        ihe  delcKafo.  of  Pennsylvania  deelined  t,.  v„  e  on 
he  question;  those  of  Maryland  anuouuced  that,  nn.ler  the" 
.nstntettons    they  should  eousidcr  their  eolony  a,  nnreZ 
^^nted,  tmtil  they  should  receive  the  directions  of  their  pZ 
cipals,  who  were  then  sitting  at  Ainuipolis 

Overndin;;  the  hesitation  of  the  moderate  mo,  the  niaiori 
ty  adopted  the  preaudde,  and  ordered  it  to  be  publ  .led     S 

peoples.  As  they  rose,  they  united.  The  unity  syudwUzcd 
by  the  crown  pa.ssed  to  the  good  people  of  the  colonic  who 
colfcct,™,y  spoke  the  word  for  totally  s'upprcsing  all  anthori^ 
under  the  lang,  g,vn,g  the  law  to  rem,sylvania  hy  proserilv 
mg  ,  s  proprietary  government,  and  investing  all  the  several 
colotnes  wuh  authority  to  institute  govertnnents  of  tl^.i"„wn 

pendu^ce.         The  Gordian  knot  is  cut,"  said  John  Adams  as 
he  n,eddat«I  in  solitude  npon  the  lead  which  ho  had  aimed 

Z''r'nrVTT''""  """  °1""""'  colonies  to  ri^ 
f  om  the  state  ot  suhjecfon  into  that  of  independent  repub- 
hc^.  Many  of  those  who  were  to  take  part  in  fra.niug  consti- 
tntujns  for  futu,-e  tnillions  turned  to  hin,  for  instrnctil  I  e 
re  a  led  the  h«t  principles  of  political  .norals,  the  lessons  incl! 
cated  by  Au.er.can  experience,  and  the  exan.ple  of  EtHaud 
Famdtar  w,th  the  wise  and  eloquent  writings  of  those  ot  he; 

results  of  Ins  own  reflections,  he  did  not  shrink  from  offerinc 
ns  advice  lie  declared  the  only  moi-al  fonndation  of  g"ve  f 
men  to  he  the  consent  of  the  people;  yet  he  connsefled  11 
n-cet  for  e.»ting  rules,  and,  to  avoid  opening  a  fruitful  soul 
of  eontrovevsy,  he  refused  to  promote  foi^he  pivsent  ^y 


1776. 


ACTS  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


UH 


alteration,  at  least  in  Massachusctta,  in  the  qualifications  of 
voters.  "  There  is  no  good  government,"  he  said,  "  Imt  what 
IS  republican  ;  for  a  republic  is  an  empire  of  laws,  and  not  of 
men ; "  and,  to  constitute  the  best  of  repul.lics,  he  enforced  the 
necessity  of  eeparating  the  executive,  legislative,  and  judicial 
jiowers.  The  ill  use  v^iich  the  royal  governors  had  made  of 
the  veto  pmer  did  not  c(."fuse  his  judgment;  he  upheld  the 
princii)le  that  the  chief  executive  magistrate  ought  to  be  in- 
vested  with  a  negative  upon  the  legislature.  To  judges  he 
wished  to  assign  commissions  during  good  behavior,  and  to 
establish  their  salaries  by  law,  but  to  make  them  liable  to  im- 
peachment and  removal  by  the  grand  iiKpiest  of  the  colony. 

The  repul>lic3  of  the  ancient  world  had  grown  out  of  cities, 
60  that  their  governments  were  originally  municipalities;  to 
make  a  repu],lie  possible  in  the  large  territories  emlira^ed  in 
the  several  American  colonies,  where  the  whole  soci.jty  could 
never  be  assembled,  power  was  to  be  deputed  by  the  many  to 
a  few,  who  were  to  be  elected  by  suffrage,  and  were  in  theory 
to  be  a  faithful  miniature  jwrtrait  of  the  people.     Nor  yet 
ehouU:  all  power  be  intrusted  to  one  representative  assembly. 
John  Adams  taught,  what  an  analysis  of  the  human  mind  and 
the  examples  of  history  through  thousands  of  years  unite  to 
confirm,  that  a  single  assembly  is  liable  to  the  frailties  of  a  sin- 
gle individual,  to  passionate  caprices,  and  to  a  selfish  eagerness 
for  the  increase  of  its  own  importance.     "If  the  legislative 
po   cr,"such  were  his  words  just  as  the  American  constitu- 
tions were  forming,  "if  the  legislative  power  is  wholly  in  one 
assembly,  and  the  executive  in  another  or  in  a  single  person, 
these  two  jiowers  will  oppose  and  encroach  upon  each  other' 
until  the  contest  shall  end  in  war,  and  the  whole  i)ower,  legis- 
lative and  executive,  be  usurped  by  the  strongest." 

These  are  words  to  be  inscribed  on  the  memory  and  heart 
of  every  nation  that  would  constitute  a  re])ublic ;'  yet  at  that 
time  there  was  not  one  member  of  the  continental  congress 
who  applied  the  ])rinciple  to  the  continental  congress  itself. 
Hawley  of  Northampton  had  advised  an  American  parlia- 
ment u-ith  two  houses  of  legislature;  but  John  Adams  as  yet 
saw  no  occasion  for  any  continental  constitution  except  a  con- 
gress, which  should  contain  a  fair  representation  of  the  colo- 


,i' 


m 


k      I 


i  J 


:i 


;,t 


T 


846  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxi. 

nies,  and  confine  its  antlioi-ity  sacredly  to  war,  trade,  disputes 
between  colony  and  colony,  the  post-olKee,  and  the  unaimroim- 
ated  pu])lic  lands. 

In  the  separate  colonies,  he  ni-ged  that  all  the  yonth  slionld 
be  liberally  educated,  and  all  men  be  recpiired  to  keep  arms 
and  to  1)0  trained  to  their  use.  A  country  havin^^  a  constitu- 
tion founded  on  these  principles,  diiTusing  knowledge  among 
the  people,  and  inspiring  them  with  the  conscious  dignity  bc^ 
coming  fi-ee  men,  would,  "when  compared  with  the  regions  of 
monarchical  or  aristocratical  domination,  seem  an  Arcadia  or 
au  Elysium."' 


H     ! 


1775. 


BEITAIN  SEEKS  FOKEIGX  AID. 


347 


hi;  ,  'iii^ 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


BRITAIN    SEEKS    FOKEIGN   AID. 


•  ui-^- 


1775-1776. 

CouLi)  the  king  have  employed  none  bnt  British  troops, 
the  war  by  land  against  the  colonies  must  have  been  of  short 
duration.  Sir  JosepJi  Yorke,  the  British  ambassador  at  the 
Uagne,  proposed  the  transfer  of  a  brigade  from  the  service  of 
the  Xetlierlands  to  that  of  his  sovereign.  The  young  stad- 
holder  made  rci)ly  directly  to  his  cousin,  the  king  of  England, 
declining  the  retpiest.  King  George  renewed  his  solicitation. 
In  1590,  the  Low  Conntries  pledged  to  Queen  Elizaljcth  as 
cecurity  for  a  loan  three  important  fortresses,  vvliich  she  gar- 
risoned with  her  own  troops ;  in  lOlG  the  Dutch  discharged 
the  debt,  and  the  garrisons  were  withdrawn  from  the  caution- 
ary towns,  except  an  English  nnd  a  Scottish  bi-igade  which 
passed  into  the  service  of  the  United  Provinces.  William  III. 
recalled  the  English  brigade,  and  in  1719  the  privilege  of  re- 
cruiting in  Scotland  was  withdrawn  from  the  otlier,  so  that  its 
rank  a  id  tile,  consisting  of  more  than  twenty-one  hundred 
men,  were  of  all  nations,  though  its  officers  were  still  Scotch- 
men by  birth  or  descent.  In  favor  of  the  loan  of  these 
troop8,  it  was  urged  that  the  officers  already  owed  allegiance 
to  the  British  king;  that  common  interests  connected  the  two 
countries;  that  the  pr».sent  occasion  offered  to  the  prince  of 
Orange  "the  unique  advantage  anu  particular  honor"  of 
strengthening  the  Oonds,  of  close  friendship  which  had  been 
"more  or  less  enfeebled"  by  the  neutrality  of  the  United 
Provinces  during  the  last  French  war. 

In  the  states  general  Zealand  and  Utrecht  consented ;  the 


-;  i  *• 


."! 


'li 


' 

i 

i 

%    ; 

< 
I 

! 

1, 
f 

i          ■ 

( 

;:    '1 

H                 1 

1 

[i 

348        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  m. ;  cu.  xxii. 

province  of  Holland  objected  that  a  commercial  sti.te  should 
never  Init  from  necessity  become  involved  in  any  quarrel 
Baron  van  der  Capellen  tot  den  Pol,  one  of  the  nobles  of 
Overyssel,  reasoned  in  this  wise :  Furnishing  the  troops  would 
be  a  departure  from  the  true  policy  of  the  strictest  neutrality ; 
the  country  has  fruitlessly  sacrificed  her  prosperity  to  advance 
the  greatness  of  England;  she  has  shed  rivers  of  blood  under 
pretence  of  establishing  a  balance  of  power,  and  has  only 
strengthened  an  empire  which  is  now  assuming  a  more  dread- 
ful monarchy  over  the  seas  than  ever  had  been  known ;  she 
will  find  herself,  as  formerly,  engaged  in  a  baleful  war  with 
France,  her  most  powerful  neighbor  and  her  natural  ally  in 
the  defence  of  the  liberty  of  commerce;  a  rupture  bet^veeu 
Bntam  and  France  will  bring  advantage  to  the  navigation  of 
the  republic  if  slie  would  but  maintain  her  neutrality ;  in  the 
war  of  succession  which  gave  to  Britain  the  key  to  the  Medi- 
terranean, she  had  nothing  for  her  share  but  the  total  waste 
of  her  forces  and  her  treasure ;  she  has  religiously  observed 
her  treaties,  and  yet  England  denies  her  the  stipulated  safety 
of  merchandise  in  free  bottoms,  and  searches  and  arbitrarily 
confiscates  her  ships.    Besides,  janizaries  rather  than  the  troops 
of  a  free  state  should  be  hired  to  Rul)due  the  colonists.     Why 
should  a  nation  of  men,  who  have  borne  the  title  of  rebels  and 
freed  themselves  from  oppression  by  their  swords,  employ 
their  trooi)s  in  crushing  the  Americans,  who  yet  are  worthy  of 
the  esteem  of  the  whole  woi-ld  as  defending  with  moderation 
and  with  intrepi.lity  the  rights  which  (Jod  and  not  the  British 
legislature  has  given  them  as  men ! 

These  ideas,  once  set  in  motion,  were  sure  to  win  the  day ; 
but  the  states  of  Overyssel  suppressed  all  explicit  declarations 
against  England ;  and  the  states  general  disguised  their  refusal 
under  the  form  of  a  consent  to  lend  the  brigade,  on  the  condi- 
tion tlicic  it  never  should  be  used  out  of  Europe. 

During  tlie  tardy  course  of  the  discussion  Bir a' n  had  ob- 
tained supplies  of  men  from  Germany.  The  dt,'Un^  and 
landgraves  and  reigning  dukes  of  that  empire  were  so  ac- 
customed to  Iiire  out  tlieir  trooi)s  for  JiPvi-  person;,!  profit, 
that  German  troops  had  been  engaged  m  werj  ^reat  con' 
test  which   raged  from    Poland  to  Lisbon,  from  the  Korth 


1,1, 


1775. 


BRITAIN  SEEKS  FOREIGN  AID. 


349 


Sea  to  Naples,  and  were  sometimes  arrayed  in  tlie  same  battle 
on  opposite  sides. 

So  soon  as  it  became  known  tliat  the  king  of  England  de- 
sired recruits  from  Germany,  crowds  of  adventurers  volun- 
teered tlieir  aid.  lie  Lad  scruples  about  accepting  their  offers, 
saying :  "  The  giving  commissions  to  Gennan  officers  to  get 
men,  in  plain  English,  amounts  to  making  me  a  kidnapper, 
which  I  cannot  think  a  very  honorable  occupation ; "  but  he 
continued  a  contract  with  a  Hanoverian  lieutenant-colonel  for 
raising  four  thousand  recruits  in  Germany,  granting  for  the 
purpose  the  use  of  his  electoral  dominions  and  the  ''indis- 
pensably necessary  assistance  and  support  of  his  Held  ^-lar- 
shal." 

A  larger  bounty,  higher  wages,  ,;nd  the  undefii'od  prospect 
of  spoils  in  the  "  El  Dorado  "  of  America,  attracted  vagabond 
veterans  to  the  British  standard.  The  German  !iut  had  for- 
bidden enlistments  by  foreigi-  powers  in  any  part  of  Germany; 
the  court  of  Vienna  wrote  to  the  free  cities  and  several  of  the 
states  of  the  empire,  that  "  Great  Britain  had  no  more  connec- 
tion with  the  empire  than  Eussia  or  Spain,  neither  of  which 
powers  was  permitted  to  recruit  within  its  limits,"  and  ordered 
its  ministers  to  obstruct  the  recruiting  officers  in  the  British 
service;  yet  the  king's  contractor  was  very  soon  ready  witli  an 
instalment  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  ]u-omised  rapid 
success  when  the  enterprise  should  got  a  little  better  into  train. 
The  prince  bisho])  of  Liege  and  the  elector  of  Cologne  con- 
sented to  shut  their  eyes  to  the  presence  of  English  agents, 
who  had  recruiting  tations  in  Neuwied  and  at  Frankfort. 
The  undertaking  was  proliibited  by  the  law  of  nations  and  of 
the  empire.:  the  British  ministers  therefore  instructed  their 
diplomatic  representative  at  the  small  courts  to  give  all  pos- 
sible uid  to  the  execution  of  the  service,  but  not  to  implicate 
their  government,  in  ■  iiis  way  foreign  lev" 'S  were  obtained 
to  till  up  British  icuiments. 

The  uritish  uiiiustry  openly  sought  to  engage  subsidiary 
troo])S  in  Germany.  The  elector  of  Saxony  put  aside  the 
thought  at  its  fi  "t  i-uggestiou,  saving  that  "to  send  part  of 
hl:>  ai-my  into  tlie  remote  countries  of  the  Now  AV^orld 
affected  too  nearly  his  jiaternal  tenderness  for  his  subjects. 


'I 'I 


:iB::H 


•fi 


r  i 


nr)(> 


AMi:i;i('A   AKMS   KOR  ST•:LF-T)F:FE^fCK 


Kl'.  III.;    (Ml.   XXII. 


Mild  stu'iiifd  ((K>  much   in  coiilriist  willi  tlio  rules  of  a  I 


polKT, 


ic'iiUliy 


It   was  liopcd  (Iml,  flio  dnko  of    nniiiswidi  ild   supply 

3f  least  (Imv  f lu.iisiind,  and  llic  laiid-rravc  of  ilosso-(Wl 
live  tlioiisaiid;  in  NovcM.iher  I  77:>,  S.iiroii<  repeated  fo  (\,I„nd 
FaiK'in,  his  ai;'enf,  the  instrnctions  I 


minister   in    Iviissi; 


^ 


)el()re  i;ivcMi  to  tlic  IJritish 


our  point  IS   to  o-c't  as  many  in 


voii  can  ;  it  will    he  iiiuch  (( 
moderate  terms,  lhoiii;-h  expi-itse  is  not  s( 
tlw  pr(>sent  i>iiK'rnene_y  as  in  ordinary  ease; 
iiecessarv,  as  the  kino;  is  extreinelj  a'nxioii. 


en  aa 


your  er(>dit  to  procure  tli(>  most 

>  much  the  ohject  in 

(Jreat  activity  is 


I  shall 


if  the  kiui>-  \\  i 


ivu^ird  It  as  a  tavor,"  wrote  the  priiuv  of  Waldeck 


posed  o{'  ollicers  and  sold 


iccepi  a  ren-iinent  of  six  hundred  i 


nen,  coni- 


icrs,  wl'.o,  1 1 


tainly  demand   nolhinn' hetter  than  to  liiid 
sacriliciii.:;-  tluMiiselves  for  his  nuiieslv. 


!<('  their  prince,  will  cer- 
111  opportunitv  of 


c'losei 


1  with 


ne  o 


ii; 


!•  was  i-a. 


:er, 


.)■ 


Charles,  the  r(>iij;-iiin<:- duke  of   ! 


ahoiit    si\tv-tlir(H\       I) 


h-unswick,  was  at  that  tiiuo 


iiniii;-   till'    lortv    vears  of 


spendthrift  had  sipiandered  a  loan  of  twelve  mill 

hesid(>  millions  of  his  revemu>,  on   his  Ftal 

<»f   l''reiu'h  dancers,  liis  t]i(>a(re,  jouri 

iiii^' 

armv 


is  rule  the 

ions  of  Ihalers, 

ian  o|)era,  his  eor|)s 

leys,  mistresses,  and  "-am- 


liis  experiments   m  alchemy,  hut  most  of  all  on  his  little 

ve;irs  a  new  ]uanie  minister  had  improved 

I''ei'dinaiid,   the  heir  apparent,  had 


Witi 

linaiic(\ 


mi 


I'liice 


Hvn  admilte,,  .        .-iv^vnt.      InlTiM    Ferdinand  lia.l 


Auiriishi.  a  sister  of  (Jeoro-e  [11.,  r 


marruMl 


i-iii-hty  thousand   pounds,  hesid 


>cei villi;-  with  her  a  dowrv  of 


0  an  annuity  of  eiy-lit  thousand 


moiv,  cliarpviMe  on  the  reviMuies  of  Iivland  and    II 
IS  pn-ei'uor  hid   l.een   indulivent   to  the  vices  of  1 


Ii 


iinover, 


lis  voiitli. 


Mifurv,  with  which  1 


u>  mixei 


He  adopted  the  skejiticism  of  his 

up  enou,o-h  of  philanthropic  srutiment  to  pass  for  a  liheral  and 
''"">^'"^^  t've  thinker.     Stately  in  his  appearance,  a  student  of 

itws  and  all'ectediv 


attitudes  l)efore  the_o-iass.  he  was  profuse  of  1 
ivihte.      His  eyes  were  of  a  most  heaiuiful  hlue.  and  t,l 
pivssion  friendly  and  whiniua-.      II.>  liimself  a-  .]   ^!,ose  ah.mt 
Iinii  i>refessed  the  sfonovst  sense  of  tlie  omnipoienee  of  le-iti- 


leir  ex- 


rmmt  s':u' 


■n.  Ill,'  S.iNon  iniiiistt'r.  to  Count  Morii/ 


at  Loiuion,  '2'1  Dit.ilH'!-  17T.'>.     From  tl 


liriilil,  Siixim      V 


10  iircliivi'S  of  ,<i\oiiv.     M> 


uy 


1775. 


UlilTAIN   SKEK'S    FOUKKiN    Ail). 


351 


iiiiilc  priiK'os;  lie  loved  to  rule,  imd  r('(|iiir('<l  oljcdicnco.  TFelind 
couni-jfr,  ;iiid  jiisl,  too  iiiucli  id)ili(y  to  Ix;  cidli'd  iiisitr|,i(i,.;„|(  . 
it  wiis  liis  pride;  to  do  his  (hiy'ts  work  properly;  iind  lie  iiitro- 
diici'd  (!C')noiiiy  into  the  piil>iie  iidiniiiistriitioii.  IiidinercTit  to 
liis  Kii^rlisli  wife,  iilaiuloiied  to  wiisiiul  pleasure, yet  iiidefatio-a- 
1)1(!  ill  labor,  iieillier  prodi^'al,  nor  despotie,  nor  and)itiouH,  liiH 
^reat  defect  was  (iiat  Ik;  had  no  lieait,  so  tliat  lie  was  not  capa- 
ble of  <>;ratiliidi>  or  love,  nor  true  t<»  his  word,  nor  lixed  in  his 
l)rincipl('s,  nor  siuiled  in  discriiriinatin^^  military  wordi.  Ilo 
was  a  ^oiHl  secondary  ollicer,  exact  in  the  iiiechaniKin  of  a  regi- 
ment, hut  unlit  to  plan  a  campaiij::!!  or  lead  an  army. 

Faucitt,  on  the  evenin<:;  of  his  ai'rival,  soii-^ht  a.  conference 
with  the  hereditary  prince  to  whom  Isc  horo  a  sjjccial  letter 
from  his  I<in<;.  Ferdinand  unreservedly  appa-oved  the  Hridsh 
proposal,  and  promised  his  interposition  with  his  father  in  its 
favor.  The  rein-niii<rclnke,  in  the  distressed  state  of  his  liiiances, 
gave  his  concurrence  with  all  imaginahle  facility. 

It  remained  for  Faucitt  to  chalferwith  Fenmco,  the  Bruns- 
wick minister,  on  the  i)ri(;e  of  (he  troops,  to  the  numher  of 
four  Ihoiisaiid  infantry  and  three  hundred  light  dragoons. 
These  last  were  not  wanted,  hut  l''aiicitt  accejjted  them,  "  rather 
than  appear  dillicult."  Sixty  (Jerman  dollars  for  each  man 
was  demaiuh'd  as  levy  moiu^y ;  hut  lliiriy  crowns  Lanco,  or 
about  thirty-four  and  a  half  of  our  dollars,  was  agreed  upon. 
I'lvery  soldier  who  should  bo  killed  was  to  lie  paid  for  at 
(he  rate  of  the  levy  money;  and  tlii-ec  wounded  were  to 
be  reckoned  as  one  killed.  JJruiiswick  demanded  that  tlio 
Kngli^h  pay  should  begin  three  months  before  the  march  of 
the  troops,  but  assented  to  the  advance  of  only  two  months' 
Jiay.  The  annual  subsidy,  after  wrangling  for  two  days,  was 
settled  at  sixty-four  thousand  live  himdri'd  (Jerman  crowns 
from  (he  da(e  of  the  signature  of  the  treaty,  and  twice  tluit 
sum  for  two  yours  after  the  return  of  the  troops. 

Itiivlesel,  a  ('(tlonel  in  (lie  duke's  service,  was  selected  for 
the  comiiKtiid,  with  the  rank  of  a  major-general.  He  was  a 
man  of  Ii<»nor  and  activity;  fond  of  lii^,  profession,  of  which  ho 
had  spared  no  pains  to  make  himself  master. 

During  the  war,  liruiiswick  furnished  altogether  live  tlion- 
sand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-three  mercenaries,  a  num])er 


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362       AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     kp.  iir. ;  on.  xxii. 

equal^  to  more  than  one  sixth  of  the  able-bodied  men  iu  the 
principality. 

It  is  just  to  inquire  if  conduct  like  that  of  Ferdinand  was 
followed  by  a  liajjpj  life  and  an  honorable  death.     Of  his  sons, 
the  oldest  died  two  years  before  him ;  two  others  were  idiotic 
and  bliTid  ;  his  eldest  daughter  was  married  to  the  brutal  prince 
of  Wiirtemberg,  and  perished  in  1 788.     The  intimate  relations 
which  led  George  III.  to  begin  the  purchase  of  mercenary 
troops  with  his  brother-in-law  made  him  select  Ferdinand's 
youngest  daughter,  Caroline— a  woman  brought  up  in  the  cor- 
ni])ting  atmosphere  of  her  fathei-'s  ])alace,  and  environed  by 
licentiousness  from  her  childhood-to  become,  at  twenty-seven 
the  wife  of  the  prince  of  Wales,  and  eventually  a  queen  of 
Great  Eritam.     As  to  the  ])rince  himself,  in  a  battle  where  his 
incompetence  as  a  commander  assisted  to  bring  upon  Prussia  a 
most  disastrous  defeat,  his  eyes  were  shot  away;  a  fu-itive 
deserted  by  mistress  and  friends,  he  refused  to  take  food  and 
so  died.  ' 

^  From  Brunswick  Faucitt  hurried  to  Cassel,  where  his  com- 
ing was  expected  by  one  who  knew  well  the  strait  to  which 
the  Lritish  ministry  was  red.iced.  The  people  of  Hesse  pre, 
serve  the  hardy  and  wariike  character  of  its  ancestral  tribe 
which  the  Romans  couM  never  vanquish.  It  was  a  nation  of 
soldiers,  whose  valor  had  been  ju-oved  in  all  the  battle-fields  of 
J^urope.  In  the  former  century  the  republic  of  \renice  had 
employed  them  against  the  Turks,  and  they  had  taken  part  in 
the  siege  of  Athens. 

Tiie  landgrave,  Frederic  II.,  was  al)out  fifty-six,  and  had 
ruled  for  ne.arly  sixteen  years.  His  nature  wius  brutish  and 
obstinate.  The  wife  of  his  youth,  a  daughter  of  Geom-e  II 
the  gentlest  of  her  race,  was  forced  to  tly  from  his  inhumanity 
to  his  own  father  for  protection.  At  the  age  of  iifty-tliree  he 
married  again,  but  lived  with  his  second  consort  on  no  better 
terms  than  with  his  first. 

The  landgrave  had  been  scnipulously  educated  in  the  Ee- 
formed  Church,  of  wliicli  the  house  of  Hesse  had  ever  re- 
gar,  ed  Itself  a  l)ulwark ;  but  he  piqued  himself  on  ha^^ing  dis- 
burdened his  mind  of  the  prejudices  of  the  vulgar,  courted 
V  oltaire  s  esteem  by  doubting  various  narratives  in  the  Eible 


1775. 


BRITAIN-  SEEKS   FOREIGN   AID. 


353 


and  scoffi'd  alike  at  tlie  Old  Testainont  and  tlio  Kcw.     In  his 
view,  Calvinism  had  died  out  oven  in  (ieneva;  and  Luther, 
though  coiumendahle  for  having  loved  wine  and  women,  was 
but  an  ordinary  num;  ho  therefore  turned  Catholic  in  1740, 
from  dislike  to  the  .simi)licity  of  the  established  worship  of  his 
people.     Jlo  had  learned  to  favor  toleration,  to  abolish  the  use 
of  torture,  and  to  make  capital  punishments  exceedingly  rare ; 
at  the  same  time,  he  paraded  his  vices  publicly  with  shameless 
indecorum.     Having  no  nationality,  he  sought  to  introduce 
French  modes  of  life;  had  his  opera,  ballet-dancers,  mascpier- 
ades  during   the   carnival,  his   French   playhouse,  a   cast-off 
French  C(>(iuette  for  his  i)rincipal  mistress,  a  French  superin- 
tendent of  theatres  for  his  librarian.     I]ut  nothing  could  be 
less  like  Franco  than  his  court;  life  in  Cassel  was  spiritless ; 
"nobody  hero  reads,"  said  Forster;  "the  different  raidvs  an' 
stilHy  separated,"  said  the  histoi-ian  MiiUcr.    Jiirth  or  wealth 
alone  had  inllucncc:   merit  could  not  connnand  respect,  nor 
talent  hope  for  fostering  care. 

To  this  man  Faucitt  delivered  a  letter  fi-om  the  British 
hing.  (General  Schlieflen,  the  nn'nistcr  with  whom  he  was  to 
conduct  the  negotiation,  prepared  him  to  acrpiiesce  uncondi- 
tionally in  every  demand  of  the  landgrave. 

The  first  extortion  of  the  prince  was  a  sum  of  more  than 
forty  thousand  pounds  for  hosi)ital  disbursements  dunng  the 
last  war.  The  account  had  been  liipiidated,  paid,  and  closed  ; 
but  the  scandalous  claim  was  revived  and  enforced. 

Tlie  landgrave  accuimdatod  in  the  new  treaty  every  favor- 
able sti])idatiou  that  had  Rei)arately  found  a  i)lace  in  any  of 
the  old  ones.  In  the  levy  money  agreed  upon,  the  Hessian 
contract  had  an  advantage  of  twenty  per  cent  over  that  with 
Brunswick. 

The  master  stroke  of  Scldieffen  was  the  settlement  of  the 
subsidy.  The  British  agont  believed  that  one  campaign  would 
tonninate  the  war;  the  Hessian  therefore,  with  seeming  mod- 
eration, accepted  a  douljie  subsidy,  to  be  paid  from  the  signa- 
ture of  the  treaty  to  its  expiration.  As  the  engagement  actu- 
ally continued  in  force  for  about  ten  years,  it  afforded  a  clear 
profit  to  the  landgrave  of  five  millions  of  .>ur  dollars. 

The  taxes  paid  by  the  Hessians  were  sufficient  to  defrav  the 

VOL.  IV. — 23 


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354        AMERICA  ARMS   FOR   SELF-DEFEXCE.     eimii.  ;  en.  xxii. 

pay-rolls  iuul  exponsos  (»f  tlio  Ilessian  anny.     One  lialf  of  tliis 
tax  was  rigorou^ily  oxac'k'd  for  the  troops  in  the  I'ntisli  sei-vicc. 

It  was  Btijiuhitcd  that  the  l>ritlsh  ])ay,  which  was  liigher 
than  tlie  Hessian,  should  he  [)ai(l  into  the  treasury  of  Hesse ; 
and  this  afforded  great  opportunities  for  ])eeulation.  The  pay- 
rolls, after  the  first  i  onth,  invariably  included  more  persons 
than  were  in  the  service  ;  with  Brunswick,  the  price  to  be  ]xud 
for  the  killed  and  wounded  was  fixed;  the  landgrave  intro- 
duced no  such  covenant,  and  was  left  with  the  right  to  exact 
full  pay  for  every  num  who  had  been  nuistered  into  the  British 
service,  whether  in  active  service  or  dead. 

The  British  minister  urged  that  the  Hessian  soldiers  should 
be  allowed  as  ample  and  extensive  enjoyment  of  their  jjay  as 
the  British  ;  ''  I  dare  not  agree  to  any  sti])ulation  on  this  head," 
answered  SchlielTen,  "  for  fear  of  giving  offence  to  the  land- 
grave." "  They  arc  my  fellow-soldiers,"  said  the  landgrave ; 
"  and  do  I  not  mean  to  treat  them  well  { " 

The  sick  and  the  wounded  of  the  r>runswickers  were  to  be 
taken  care  of  in  British  hospitals  ;  for  the  Hessians,  the  land- 
grave claimed  the  benefit  of  providing  a  hosi)ital  of  his  own. 

The  British  ministers  wished  to  clothe  the  mercenary  troojis 
in  British  manufactures ;  br.t  the  landgi-ave  would  not  allow 
this  branch  of  his  profits  to  be  im])aire(l. 

It  had  been  thouglrt  in  England  that  the  landgrave  could 
furnish  no  more  than  five  thousand  foot;  but  the  price  was  so 
high  that,  aftei-  contracting  for  twelve  thousand,  he  further 
bargained  to  supply  four  hundred  Ib.'ssian  yagers,  armed  with 
riHed  guns;  and  then  three  hundred  dismounted  dragoons; 
and  then  three  corjis  of  artillery ;  taking  care  fc^r  every  addi- 
tior.  to  recpiire  the  double  subsidy. 

To  escape  impressment,  his  subjects  fied  into  Hanover ; 
King  George,  who  was  elector  of  Hanover,  was  therefore  called 
upon  "to  discourage  the  elopement  of  Ilessian  subjects  into 
that  country,  when  the  demand  for  men  to  enable  the  land- 
grave to  fulfil  his  engagement  with  Great  Britain  was  so 
j)ressing."' 

It  was  thought  essential  to  march  the  troops  through  the 
electorate  to  their  i)lace  of  eml)arkatiou ;  for  it  was  not  doubted, 
"  if  the  Hessians  were  to  march  along  the  left  bank  of  the 


1    h 


177.5-1770.  BRITAIN  SEEKS  FOREIGN  AID.  355 

Weser,  tlirongli  the  territcries  cf  Pnissia  and  pcrl.aiw  l.ulf  a 
score  of  petty  princes,  one  luilf  of  tl.cni  would  |,c  lost  on  the 
way  by  desertion."  Yet  very  many  went  willin^lv,  l.avin-r 
been  made  to  believe  that  in  America  they  wonld  have  free 
license  to  ])1  under  and  to  indulge  their  passions. 

Every  point  in  dispnte  liaving  been  yielded  to  the  categori- 
cal demands  of  the  landgrave,  the  treaty  was  signed  on%he 
h.rty-  irst  day  of  January.  This  wonld  have  seemed  defini- 
tive ;  but  as  the  payment  of  the  double  subsidy  vas  to  be'n'n 
fnvm  the  day  of  the  signature  of  the  treaty,  the' landgrave  jJut 
back  tlie  date  of  the  mstrument  to  January  the  fifteenth 

Ills  troops  were  among  the  best  in  Europe  ;  their  chief 
commander  was  J.ieutenant-General  Ileister,  a  brave  old  man 
of  nearly  sixty,  cheerful  in  disposition,  crippled  with  wounds, 
of  a  good  understanding,  but  without  genius  for  war.  Next 
urn  stood  Lieutenant-deneral  Knyphausen,  remarkable  for 
taciturnity  and  reserve;  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  land- 
grave's service. 

Of  the  four  major-generals,  not  one  was  remarkalile  for 
capacity  or  skill.  Of  the  colonels,  every  one  praised  Donop, 
who  commanded  tlie  four  ],attalions  of  grenadiers  and  tile 
jngovs;  Rail,  Minigerode,  Wurmb,  Loos,  and  four  or  five 
others  had  served  with  distinction. 

The  excuse  of  the  British  ministry  for  yielding  to  all  tlie 
exactions  of  the  landgrave  was  their  eagerness  to  obtain  the 
troops  early  in  February.     "  Delay,"  wrote  Suffolk,  "  will  mar 
he  expected  advantage."     The  landgrave  consented  that  thir- 
teen battalions  should  oe  prepared  to  march  on  the  fifteenth  of 
lebniary ;  Imt  corruption  was  then  so  thoroughly  a  ])art  of  the 
Lntish  administration  that  they  M'ere  sent  Cn  private  vessels, 
liat  mterested  people  might  levy  a  commission  on  the'conl 
tractors,  who  did  not  provide  transports  enough  at  the  time 
appointed  and  even  in  ^rarch  could  not  tell  when  they  would 
all  be  voady      The  first  detachment  from  Brunswick  did  not 
sail  from  England  till  the  fourth  of  A]>ril,  and  yet  reached 
Quebec  before  the  first  division  of  the  Hessians  cleared  tho 
British  channel. 

Tlie  transports  were  very  l,adly  fitted  up  ,  tlie  bedding  was 
shamelully  scanty.     The   clothing  of  the  Brunswick   troops 


I' .. 


11 


1-  i 


i    i 


350        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ei-.  hi.  ;  cu.  xxn. 

•was  old,  and  only  patclied  np  for  the  present ;  "  tlie  person 
who  executed  the  connnis^ion"  for  purchasing  t^lioes  for  them 
m  England  sent  "fine  thin  dancing  punii>s,"  and  of  these  the 
greatest  number  were  too-  small  for  use. 

The  treaty  with  the  hereditary  prince  of  Kesse-Cassol,  who 
ruled  in  Ilanau,  met  with  no  obstacle,  lie  went  hi  person 
round  the  dilferent  bailiwicks  to  choose  recruits,  and  accom- 
panied his  regiment  as  far  as  Frankfort  on  their  way  to  Ilel- 
voetsluys.  Conscious  of  the  merit  of  this  devotion,  he  pressed 
for  an  additional  special  subsidy,  Suffolk  granted  the  demand 
under  an  injunction  of  the  most  absolute  secrecy,  and  received 
written  promises  of  a  discretion  without  bounds.  "My  at- 
tachment to  the  best  of  kings  removes  all  idea  of  interest  in 
me,"  Avrote  the  prince. 

It  was  doubted  if  the  i)rinc'e  of  Waldeek  could  make  good 
his  offers,  for  there  were  already  three  Waldeek  regiments  in 
the  service  of  the  Netherlands;  tlie  states  of  the  ovt 'tasked 
principality  had  comjjlained  of  tlie  loss  of  its  subjects;  but 
the  prince  vowed  so  warm  an  attaclmient  to  tlie  "iiK'nmj)nrablo 
monarch  "  of  Britain  tluit,  on  the  twentieth  of  April,  the  treaty 
^vith  him  was  closed.  To  raise  a  regiment  needed  force  and 
authority,  and  that  "  he  sliould  not  be  too  tender  of  his  own 
subjects."  To  prevent  their  deserting,  a  corps  of  mounted 
yagers  escorted  them  to  Beverungon. 

The  half-cra7X'd  ruling  prince  of  tlie  house  of  Anhalt- 
Zerbst,  brother  to  the  empress  of  Russia,  who  lived  very  rarely 
within  his  OAvn  dominions  but  kei)t  up  sixteen  recruiting- 
stations  outside  of  them,  wrote  directly  to  George  III.,  offering 
a  regiment  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  men;  but  the 
letter  was  so  strange  that  it  was  pronounced  not  fit  to  be 
dehvered,  and  during  that  year  nothing  came  of  his  i)roposal. 

The  elector  of  Bavaria  made  an  overture  to  Elliot,  the 
British  minister  at  Eatisbon;  l)ut  it  was  not  heeded,  for  "his 
court  -was  so  sold  to  Austria  and  France "  that  he  dared  not 
speak  of  it  "  to  his  own  ministers." 

On  the  last  day  of  February  the  treaties  with  Brunswick 
and  Ilesse  were  considered  in  the  house  of  commons.  Lord 
North  said :  "  The  troops  are  wanted ;  the  terms  on  which 
they  are  procured  are  less  than  we  could  have  expected ;  the 


1776. 


BRITAIN  SEEKS  FOREIGN  AID. 


357 


his 


tlio 


force  will  enable  us  to  compel  America  to  submission,  perhaps 
without  further  effusion  of  blood."    He  was  answered  by  Lord 
John  Cavendish :  "The  measure  disgraces  Britain,  humihates 
the  king,  and,  by  its  extravagance,  impoverishes  the  country." 
"  Our  business  will  be  effected  within  the  year,"  replied  Corn- 
wall ;  "so  that  the  troops  are  all  had  on  lower  terms  than  ever 
before."     Lord  Irnham  took  a  broader  view :  "  The  Iand"-ravo 
of  Hesse  and  the  di;ke  of  Brunswick  render   Germany  vile 
and  dishonored  in  the  eyes  of  all  Eni-ope,  as  a  nursery  of  men 
for  those  who  have  most  money,  making  them  destroy  niuch 
better  and  nobler  beings  than  themselves.     The  landgi-ave  of 
Hesse  has  his  prototype  in  Sancho  Panza,  who  said  that,  if  ho 
were  a  prince,  he  should  wish  all  his  subjects  to  be  blacka- 
moors, so  that  he  could  turn  them  into  ready  money  by  selling 
then-.."     A  Avarning  voice  was  raised  by  ILirtley :  "You  set 
the  American  congress  the  exam])le  of  applying  to  foreign 
powers  ;  when  they  intervene,  the  possibility  of  reconciliation 
is  totally  cut  off."     "The  measures  of  ministers,"  said  James 
Luttrell  who  had  served  in  America,  "  are  death-warrants  to 
thousands  of  British  subjects,  not  steps  toward  regaining  tho 
colonies."     George  Grenville,  afterward  manpiis  of  Bucking- 
ham, stated  this  as  the  alternative:  "Sh.i.,  we  abandon  Amer- 
ica, or  sliall  we  recover  our  sovereignty  over  that  country  ? 
We  had  better  make  one  effort  more."     Lord  George  Ger- 
main defended  the  treaties  on  the  ground  of  necessity;  this 
Lord  Barrington  confirmed,  saying  Ih-itish  recruits  could  not 
be  procured  on  any  terms,  and  the  bargain  was  the  best  that 
could  bo  made.     The  ministers  were  sustained  by  their  usual 
majority. 

Five  days  later  they  were  equally  well  supported  in  the 
house  of  lords ;  but  not  without  a  rebuke  from  the  duke  of 
Cumberland,  one  of  the  king's  brothers.  M-ho  said:  "I  lament 
to  see  Brunswickers,  who  once  to  the' :  great  honor  were  em- 
ployed in  the  defence  of  the  lil)crties  of  the  subject,  now  sent 
to  subjugate  his  constitutional  liberties  in  another  part  of  this 
vast  empire." 

The  whole  number  of  men  furnished  in  the  war  by  Bruns- 
■wick  was  equal  to  one  twenty-seventh  part  of  its  collective 
population ;  by  the  landgrave  of  Hesse,  to  one  out  of  every 


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6^^^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


r^y^ 


^.-  M.^. 


Qr 


fe 


'  I 


I ' 


358        AMERICA  AEilS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  Til. ;  on.  XXII. 


twenty  of  his  subjects,  or  one  in  four  of  the  able-bodied  men ; 
a  proportionate  conseript'on  in  1776  would  have  shipped  to 
America  from  England  and  Wales  alone  an  army  of  more  than 
four  hundred  thousand  men.  Soldiers  were  impressed  from 
the  plough,  the  workshop,  the  highway ;  no  man  was  safe  from 
the  inferior  agents  of  the  princes,  who  kidnapped  without 
scruple.  Almost  every  family  in  Hesse  mourned  for  one  of  its 
members. 

^  In  a  letter  to  Yoltaire,  tlie  landgrave,  announcing  his  con- 
tribution of  troops,  expressed  his  zeal  to  leam  "the  difficult 
principles  of  the  art  of  governing  men,  and  of  making  them 
perceive  that  all  which  their  ruler  does  Is  for  their  special 
good."  He  MTotQ  a  catechism  for  princes,  in  whicli  Voltaire 
professed  to  find  traces  of  a  pupil  of  the  king  of  Pmssia. 
"  Do  not  attribute  his  education  to  me,"  answered  the  great 
Frederic ;  "  were  he  a  graduate  of  my  school,  he  would  never 
have  turned  Catholic,  and  would  never  have  sold  his  subjects 
to  the  English  as  they  di-ive  cattle  to  tlie  shaml^lcs.  He  a  ])re- 
ceptor  of  sovereigns !  The  sordid  passion  for  gain  is  the  only 
motive  of  his  vile  procedure." 

From  avarice  he  sold  the  flesh  of  his  own  people  while 
they  were  yet  alive,  depriving  many  of  existence  and  liimseK 
of  honor.     In  the  land  of  free  cities  and  free  thought,  an  em- 
pire which  spoke  tlie  language  of  Luther,  where  Kant  by  pro- 
found analysis  was  compelling  ske])ticism  itself  to  bear  witness 
to  the  eternal  law  of  duty,  where  Lessing  inculcated  faith  in 
an  ever-improving  education  of  the  race,  wiiere  the  heart  of 
the  best  palpitated  with  hope  for  the  American  cause— the 
landgrave  forced  his  state  to  act  against  that  liberty  M-hich  was 
the  child  of  the  German  forests,  and  the  moral  life  of  the  Ger- 
manic nation.     And  did  judgment  slumber?    Were  the  eyes 
of  the  Most  High  turned  elsewhere  ?     Or,  in  the  abyss  of  the 
divine  counsels,  were  there  in  preparation  for  a  land  so  divided 
and  so  full  of  tyrauts  a  regeneration  and  union  after  the  exam- 
ple of  America  ? 


I.'S    s'  .jji' 


1775. 


AMERICA  SEEKS  FOREIGN  AID. 


359 


'I'll 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

AMERICA   SEEKS   FOREIGN  AID. 

1775-177G. 

France  and  tlie  tliirte  n  American  colonies  were  attracted 
toward  each  other,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  decide  which  of  them 
made  the  first  overture.  "Chatham  as  the  concihator  of 
America,  that  is  the  man  to  fear,"  wrote  the  Count  De 
Guines  *  from  London,  in  June  1775. 

Vergennes,  witli  wonderful  powers  of  penetration,  analyzed 
the  character  of  the  British  ministers  and  their  acts,  and  as  a 
courtier  contrasted  the  seeming  anarchy  of  England  with  the 
happiness  of  the  French  in  "hAdng  peacefully  under  a  good 
and  virtuous  king."     The  British  secretary  of  state  desired  to 
draw  from  the  French  ambassador  at  London  a  written  denial 
of  Lee's  assertion  that  the  Amencans  had  a  certainty  of  re- 
ceiving support  from  France  and  Sjiain;  but  "the  king  of 
France  would  not  suffer  himself  to  be  used  as  an  instru- 
ment to  bend  the  resistance  of  the  Americans."     "  The  prin- 
ciples of  moderation  and  of  justice  which  constantly  animate 
the  councils  of  the   king  ought,"  said  Yergennes,  "to  reas- 
siire  his  Britan^.e  majesty  against  disqi    jt  as  to  our  views. 
Far  from  mshing  to  take  advantage  of  the  embarrassments 
m  which  England  is  involved  by  American  affairs,  we  would 
rather  seek  to  give  our  aid  in  disengaging  her  from  them. 
The  spirit  of  revolt,  wherever  it  breaks  out,  is  always  a  trou- 
blesome example.    Moral  maladies  become  contagious ;  so  that 
wo  ought  to  be  on  our  guard  that  the  spirit  of  independence, 
so  terrible  in  North  America,  may  not  be  communicated  to 
points  which  interest  us  in  both  hemispheres. 

*  Letter  of  Dc  Guines  to  Vorgeimes,  10  June  1775.    MS. 


I! 

1 

■i 

t_ 

^ 

Jli 

11 

■■L 


360        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxiii. 

"  We  Lave  seen  witli  pain  the  forming  of  the  crisis,  from 
the  presentiment  that  it  may  have  wider  effects  than  natnre 
Itself  can  cause  to  be  foreseen.  We  do  not  hide  from  our- 
selves the  waywardnesses  which  enthusiasm  could  encourao-e 
and  upon  which  fanaticism  could  operate."  *  ^ 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  July  1775,  Eocliford,  the  secretary 
of  state,  conversing  with  De  Guines,  the  French  ambassador, 
remarked  tnat  "  many  persons  ox  both  parties  were  thoroughly 
persuaded  that  the  way  to  terminate  the  war  in  America  was 
to  declare  war  against  France."     De  Guines  encouraged  the 
communicativeness  of  the  secretary,  who  declared  it  to  be  the 
Lnghsh  opinion  that  England  now,  as  before  the  last  peace, 
was  a  match  for  S])ain  and  France  united ;  that,  in  the  event 
of  a  war  with  those  po^v'ers,  America,  through  fear  of  the  re- 
covery of  Canada  by  France,  would  give  up  her  contest  and 
side  with  England.     Eocliford  repeated  these  remarks  to  the 
Spanish  envoy.     Yergennes  was  unable  to  imagine  how  sensi- 
ble people  could  regard  a  war  with  France  as  a  harbor  of  ref- 
uge.^ "The   English   cabinet  is  greatly  mistaken,"  said  he, 
"if  it  thinks  we  regret  Canada;  they  may  themselves  repent 
having  made  its  acquisition."     Just  as  he  felt  the  need  of 
exact  information  on  the  state  of  opinion  in  America,  acci- 
dent offered  a  most  trasty  agent  in  Bonvouloir,  a  French  gen- 
tleman^ of  good  judgment  and  impenetrable  secrecy.     Driven 
from  St.  Domingo  I>y  the  climate,  he  had  returned  by  way  of 
Philadelphia,  Kew  York,  Providence,  and  the   neighborhood 
of  Boston;  and  he  reported  that  in  America  every  man  was 
turned  soldier,  that  all  the  world  crowded  to  tlie  camp  of 
liberty.     The  proposition  to  send  him  back  to  America  was 
submitted  by  De  Guines  from  London  through  Yergennes  to 
the  king,  who  consented.     Here  is  the  beginning  of  the  inter- 
vention of  Louis  XYI.  in  the  American  revolution,     m^ither 
his  principles  nor  his  sentiments  inclined  him  to  aid  rebel- 
lion ;  but  the  danger  of  an  attack  from  the  English  was  held 
before  his  eyes,  and,  on  the  seventh  of  August,  Yergennes 
could  reply  to  Do  Guines :  « Tlie  king  very  much  approves 
the  mission  of  Bonvouloir.     His  iustnictions  should  be  ver- 
bal, and  confined  to  tlie  two  most  essential  objects :  the  one, 
*  Vurgenncs  to  Do  Guiues,  Versailles,  23  June  1775.     MS. 


i 


ijr'^f 


1V75. 


AMERICxi   SEEKS   FOREIGN  AID. 


361 

to  make  to  you  a  faitliful  report  of  events  and  of  the  pre- 
vailing  disposition  of  tlie  public  mind  ;  the  other,  to  ^ecure 
the  Americans  against  jealousy  of  ns.  Canada  is  for  them 
the  object  of  distrust :  they  must  be  made  to  understand  that 

r  .i"'V,  ''''  ""^  '^  '*  "^^ '  ''^"^^  *^^^^*'  f^^^-  f^-o"!  envying 
them  the  liberty  and  independence  which  they  labor  to  se- 
cure we  admire  the  nobleness  and  the  grandeur  of  their 
efforts,  have  no  interest  to  injure  them,  and  shall  with  pleasure 
see  happy  circumstances  place  them  at  liberty  to  frequent  our 
ports ;  the  facilities  that  they  will  find  there  for  their  commerce 
will  soon  prove  to  them  our  esteem."  With  these  instructions, 
Bonvouloir  repaired  to  the  Low  Countries,  and  found  at  Ant^ 
werp  an  opportunity  of  embarking  for  the  colonies 

Beauniarchais,  who  was  in  England  as  an  emissary  from 
Louis  X\  I., 'encouraged  the  notion  that  England  migjit  seek 
to  revive  the  ancient  sympathies  of  her  colonies  by  entering  on 
a  war  with  France.     Having  seen  Arthur  Lee,  and  having  re- 
ceived accurate  accounts  of  the  state  of  America  from  pem.ns 
newly  arrived,  he  left  London  abruptly  for  Paris,  and  tlirougli 
Sartme  presented  to  the  king  a  secret  memorial  in  favor  of 
akmg  part  with  the  insurgents.     "  The  Americans,"  said  he, 
are  full  of  the  enthusiasm  of  liberty,  and  resolve  to  suffe^ 
everything  rather  than  yield ;  such  a  people  must  be  invincible : 
all  men  of  sense  are  convinced  that  the  Englisli  colonies  are 
lost  for  the  mother  country,  and  I  sliare  their  opinion."     On 
the  twenty-first  of  September  the  subject  was   discussed  in 
the  council  of  the  king.    The  next  day  Sartine  put  a  new  com- 
m^sjion  into  the  hands  of  Beauniarchais,  who  returned  to  Eng- 

Yet  the  means  of  pacifying  America  were  so  obvious  that 
Vergennes  was  hardly  able  to  conceive  how  the  EngUsh  min- 
isters couKl  miss  them.  The  folly  imputed  to  them  ^v^s  so  sure 
to  mvolvo  the  loss  of  their  colonies  tluit  he  called  in  question 
tlie  accounts  which  he  had  received.  The  ambassador  in 
Engkmd  replied  :  "  You  say  what  you  think  ought  to  ],e  done ; 
bu  the  king  of  England  is  the  most  obstinate  prince  alive, 
and  his  ministers,  from  fear  of  compromising  their  places,  will 
never  adopt  the  policy  necessary  in  a  great  crisis  " 

A  motion  in  Congress,  by  Chase  of  Maryland,  to  send  en- 


1 '. , 

n 

1  •    Mi 

■    !li> 

hI 

1 

1 

"if 

IP 


fr. 


362         AMEPJCA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III. ;  cii.  XXIII, 


<  I 


voys  to  France  witli  conditional  instructions  did  not  jDrevail ; 
but,  on  tlie  twenty-ninth  of  November,  Harrison,  Franklin,' 
Johnson,  Dickinson,  and  Jay  were  appointed  a  secret  "com- 
mittee for  the  sole  purpose  of  corrosjwnding  with  friends  in 
Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  other  parts  of  the  world,"  and 
funds  were  set  aside  "  for  the  payment  of  such  agents  as  they 
might  send  on  this  service." 

Simultaneously,  Dumas,  a  Swiss  by  birth,  residing  in  Hol- 
land, the  liberal  editor  of  Yattel's  work  on  international  law, 
had  written  f»  Franklin,  his  personal  friend,  tliat  "all  Europe 
wished  the  Americans  the  best  success  in  the  maintenance  of 
their  liberty;"  on  the  twelfth  of  December  the  congressional 
committee  of  secret  correspondence  authorized  Arthur  Lee, 
who  was  then  in  Londoji,  to  ascertain  the  disposition  of  foreigii 
powers,  and  Dumas,  at  tJie  Hague,  was  charged  with  a  simiFar 
commission. 

Just  then  Bonvouloir,  the  discreet  emissary  of  Yergennes, 
ari-ived   mi  rhiladelpliia ;   and,  through    Francis  Daymon,  a 
Frenchman,  the  trusty  librarian  of  the  Library  Company  in 
that  city,  was  introduced  to  Franklin  and  the  other  members 
of  the  secret  committee,  with  whom  ho  held  several  confer- 
ences by  night.     "Will  Franco  aid  us?  and  at  what  price?" 
were  the  questions  put  to  him.     "France,"  answered  he,  "is 
well  disposed  to  you  ;  if  she  should  give  you  aid,  as  she  may, 
It  will  be  on  just  and  equitable  conditions.     Make  your  pro- 
posals, and  I  will  present  them."     "  Will  it  l)e  prudent  for  us 
to  send  over  a  plenipotentiary  ? "  asked  tlie  connnittee.  "  That," 
replied  he,  "would  ]>e  precipitate  and  even  hazardous,  for  what 
\r.    38  in  Fra)ice  is  known  in  London ;  but,  if  you  will  give  me 
anything  in  charge,  I  may  receive  answers  well  suited  to  guide 
your  conduct,  altliough  I  can  guarantee  nothing  except  that 
your  coniideucc  will  not  be  betrayed."     From  repeated  inter- 
Aaews,  Bonvouloir  ol^tained   such  just  information   that   his 
report  to  the  French  minister,  though  confusedly  written,  is  in 
substance  exact.     lie  explained  that  "  the  Americans  hesitated 
about  a  declaration  of  independence  and  an  appeal  to  France ; 
that  the  British  king  had  not  as  yet  done  them  evil  enough ; 
that  they  still  waited  to  have  more  of  their  towns  destroyed 
and  more  of  their  houses  bunied  before  they  would  completely 


N 


. ;  cii.  xxiii. 

t  jjrevail ; 
Franklin, 
et  "com- 
Tiends  in 
rid,"  and 
:s  as  they 

g  in  IIol- 
onal  law, 
U  Eurojie 
enanco  of 
2;ressional 
liur  Lee, 
f  foreign 
a  similar 

jrgennes, 
ynion,  a 
ipany  in 
members 
I  confer- 
price  ? " 
iho,  "is 
5lie  may, 
onr  pro- 
it  for  us 
"That," 
for  what 
give  me 
to  guide 
opt  that 
d  inter- 
hat   his 
en,  is  in 
lesitated 
France ; 
inough ; 
istroyed 
ipletely 


171 


-i< 


76. 


AMERICA  SEEKS  FOREIGX  AID. 


363 


abhor  the  emblems  of  British  power;   that  a  brig  was  des- 
patched to  Xantes  for  munitions  of  war,  and  an  arnii.  .foment 
made  for  purchasinjr  the  same  articles  of  France  by  way  of  St. 
Domingo;   that  skilful  engineers  were  much  wanted;   that 
everybody  in  the  colonies  appeared  to  have  turned  soldier; 
that  they  had  given  up  the  English  flag,  and  had  taken  for 
their  devices  a  rattlesnake  with  thirteen  rattles,  and  a  mailed 
arm  holding  thirteen  arrows."     His  communications  were  to 
form  the  subject  of  the  most  momentous  deliberation  which 
had  engaged  the  attention  of  a  French  king  for  two  centuries. 
The  want  of  supplies,  which  was  so  urgent  that  two  thou- 
sand men  in  Washington's  army  were  destitute  of  arms  and 
unable  to  procure  them,  led  to  a  more  direct  appeal ;  and  Silas 
Deane— a  graduate  of  Yale  college,  at  one  time  a  school-mas- 
ter, afterward  a  trader;  reputed  in  congress  to  be  well  versed 
in  commercial  affairs ;  superficial,  yet  able  to  write  and  speak 
readily  and  plausibly ;  wanting  deliberate  forecast,  accurate  in- 
formation, solidity  of  judgment,  secrecy,  and  integrity— finding 
himseu  left  out  of  the  delegation  from  Connecticut,  whose  coi?- 
fidence  he  never  possessed,  solicited  and  received  from  the 
committee  of  secret  correspondence  an  appointment  as  com- 
mercial commissioner  and  agent  to  France.    That  country,  the 
committee  on  the  third  of  March  177G  instructed  him  to'say, 
^'  is  pitched  upon  for  the  first  application,  from  an  opinion  thrt! 
if  we  should,  as  there  is  appearance  we  shall,  come  to  a  total 
separation  with  Great  Britain,  France  would  be  the  jiower 
whose  friendship  it  would  be  fittest  for  us  to  obtain  and  culti- 
vate."    The  announcement  was  to  be  coupled  with  a  request 
for  clothing  and  arms  for  twenty-five  thousand  men,  a  hundred 
field-pieces,  and  a  suitable  quantity  of  ammunition. 

For  a  twelvemonth  the  problem  of  granting  aid  to  the 
American  insurgents  had  been  debated  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
king  of  France,  and  his  ministers  were  irreconcilably  divided. 
Vergennes  promoted  the  emancipation  of  America  Avith  reso- 
luteness and  prudence,  remaining  always  master  of  himself, 
and  always  mindful  that  in  point  of  rank  he  was  but  a  subor- 
dinate in  the  cabinet  of  which  he  yet  was  the  guide.  The 
quiet  and  uniform  influence  of  his  department  imperceptibly 
overcame  the  scruples  of  the  inexperienced  prince,  who  never 


\i' 


i  i 


f  il  i 


i.r 


r 


I        I 


[Km  I  'i 


1:11 


III 


I  i    ! 


I  1 1 


-'«*>**«»«~~«.„.^, 


f 

'I 


f^  I 

i 


I 


■J' 


i  i 


fl 


i  t  ' 


U 


I 


364        AMKRIOA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DKFKNOK. 


El'.  III. ;  (11.  XXIII, 


comprt'heiuliHl  tlio  far-readiin^'  iiitliu'iu'o  of  tlui  (iiicsfioii.  Sar- 
tine,  the  niiiiLsh'r  of  the  iiiariiio,  iiiid  St.  (ieriiiaiii,  the  lunv  scc- 
ivtivry  of  war  wlio  luul  been  called  fr(»m  retireineiit  and  pov- 
erty to  reform  tlie  abuses  in  the  French  army,  snstained  Ver- 
;;vniH's.  ( )n  Ihe  other  side,  Maiirepas,  the  head  of  the  cabinet, 
\>;h  for  peace,  thoiii-h  his  frivolity  and  desire  to  i)lease  left  his 
opinions  to  the  control  of  eireumstances.  IVace  Wius  the  choice 
of  Malesherbes,  who  had  tlio  firmness  of  sincerity,  yet  was  a 
man  of  meditation  and  study  rather  than  of  actioii  ;"and  Tur- 
got  was  immovable  in  his  opposition  to  a  war  with  I'.ritain. 

The  faithful  report  from  nonvouh)ir,  tlie  Frencli  a,i>-ont  at 
riiiladelpiiia,  reached  Vernennes  in  the  iirst  days  of  March 
177(5,  and  furnished  him  an  occasion  for  bringing  before  tho 
king  with  unusual  solenniity  these  "considerations:" 

"  Whether  France  and  Spain  should  (k'siro  the  subjection  or 
the  inde|)endence  of  tlu'  Knglisli  coK)nies,  is  prol)lematical ;  on 
either  liypothesis,  tliey  are  menaced  with  danger, 

"The  eontiuuatiou  of  the  civil  war  may  be  regarded  as  in- 
finitely advantagetms  to  Franco  and  S[)ain,  inasnmch  as  it  will 
exhaust  the  victors  and  the  vancpiished;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  there  is  room  to  fear,  first,  that  tho  English  ministry, 
feeling  tlie  insulliciency  of  its  means,  may  stretch  out  the  hai'ul 
of  conciliation;  or,  secondly,  after  contpiering  English  Amer- 
ica, may  use  it  as  an  instrument  to  subjugate  Kumpean  Eng- 
land;  or,  thirdly,  beaten  on  the  continent  of  America,  m:'^ 
seek  indemnity  at  tho  expense  of  France  and  Spain ;  or,  fourth- 
ly, that  the  colonists,  on  attaining  independence,  may  from 
necessity  become  coiKpierors,  and,  by  foi-cing  their  "suri)lu3 
produce  upon  Spanish  America,  destroy  the  ties  which  bind 
our  colonies  to  their  metropolis, 

"  These  different  suppositions  can  almost  enuallv  conduct 


to  Avar  with  Franco  and  Spain ;  on  the  first,  1 


)ecause  Enylaud 


Mill  be  tempted,  by  the  large  force  she  has  prepared,  to  mal  _ 
the  too  easy  concpiests  of  which  the  AVest  Indies  oiTei'  the  oppor- 
tunity ;  on  the  second,  because  the  sujipression  of  liberty  in  tho 
mother  country  can  be  clfected  only  by  fiattering  the  national 
hatred  and  jealousy  ;  on  tho  third,  throudi  tl 


ministry  to  divert  the  rage  of  tho  Engl 
and  brilliant  acquisition. 


10  necessity  of  tho 
ish  people  by  a  useful 


1770. 


AMKUICA  BEI'IvS  FOUKIUN   AID. 


865 


"With  tlio  cxcoptioji  of  iravfina,  no  one  of  llio  colonics  of 
tliu  two  nations  is  in  u  coiKlitioii  to  resist  tlic  HitialJest  pail  of 
tlio  forcoH  which  K!ij;laii(l  is  now  sciidin-jf  to  America.  Wo 
Bhould  ahiiso  ourselves  strangely  by  beUevinijr  the  Kn^Hsh  sus- 
ceptihio  of  l)eing  hehl  ba(;iv  by  motives  of  piibhc  faith  and 
treaties.  Expeiience  has  too  well  proved  that  they  regard  as 
just  and  honorable  whatever  is  advantageous  to  their  own  n<a- 
tion  or  destructive  to  tiieir  rivals.  Kngiishnieii  of  all  parties 
arc  iiersuadod  that  a  i)opular  war  against  France  or  an  invasion 
of  J^Iexieo  would  terininate,  or  at  least  allay,  their  doniestic  dis- 
sensions, as  well  as  furnish  resources  for  tlio  extinguishment  of 
their  nsitioual  debt. 

"  If  the  king  and  the  king  of  Spain  were  for  war,  it  would, 
without  doubt,  be  necessary  to  say  to  them  that  I'rovidence 
lias  maiked  out  this  moment  for  the  humiliation  of  England 
by  striking  her  with  the  blindness  which  is  tlie  surest  pre- 
cursor of  destruction,  and  that  it  is  time  to  determine  the 
monuMit  to  strike  the  decisive  blows,  which  would  ravish  from 
her  the  empire  wliich  she  claims  in  the  four  (piarters  of 
the  world.  Ihit  this  is  not  tlie  jjoint  of  view  chosen  by  the 
two  nionarchs;  and  their  part  appears  under  actual  circum- 
stances to  limit  itself,  with  one  exception,  to  a  cautious  but 
active  foresiglit. 

"The  continuance  of  tlie  war  for  at  least  one  year  is  dc- 
pirable  for  tlie  two  crowns.  To  that  end  the  Ih-itisli  ministry 
nnist  bo  mainhiiiuxl  iu  the  persuasion  tliat  JM-ance  aiid  iSj>ain 
are  jxacific,  so  that  it  may  not  fear  to  end)ark  iu  ;m  active  and 
costly  campaign  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  courage  of  the 
Amei-icans  might  be  kept  up  l)y  secret  favors  and  vague  hopes, 
which  would  assist  to  develop  ideas  of  indepeiulence.  Sliouhl 
the  mother  country  be  victorious,  she  would  for  a  long  time 
need  all  her  strength  to  kee])  down  their  spii'it. 

"If  these  considerations  are  judged  to  be  w^ell  grounded, 
we  ought  to  continue  witli  dexterity  to  trancpiillize  the  English 
nu'nistry  as  to  tlie  intentions  of  France  and  Spain.  It  will  bo 
proper  for  the  two  monarcliies  to  extend  to  the  insurgents 
secret  aid  in  military  stores  and  money,  without  seeking  any 
return  for  it  beyoiul  the  political  object  of  the  moment ;  but 
it  would  not  comport  with  the  dignity  or  interest  of  the  king 


't 
f 

1    ■  ii^  ij 


:^l 


li 


m 


i 


U  V-' 


3GG         AMEUICA  ARMS  FOPw  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Kf.  rii. ;  en.  xxm. 


to  treat  witli  tlio  iTisurgonts  till  the  liberty  of  English  Aiuenca 
shall  have  acriuired  consistency. 

^  "  In  this  moment  of  public  dani^er  it  is  indispensable  to 
raise  the  effective  force  of  the  two  monarchies  to  the  height 
of  their  real  power;  for,  whatever  may  be  the  issue  of  the 
l)re8ent  war  between  England  and  her  colonics,  of  all  conjee- 
tures  which  circumstances  authorize,  the  least  probable  is  that 
peace  can  be  preserved." 

This  discussion  of  American  affairs  Avas  sinudtaneous  with 
the  passionate  o])position  of  the  aristocracy  of  France  to  the 
reforms  of  Turgot.  The  parliament  of  Paris  had  just  refused 
to  register  the  royal  edicts  Avhich  he  had  wisely  i)repared  for 
the  relief  of  the  peasants  and  the  mechanics  of  the  kingrlo.n  ; 
and  the  registration  of  the  decrees  was  enforced  only  by  the' 
extreme  exercise  of  his  prerogative  against  a  remonstrance 
of  the  aristocracy,  who  to  the  last  resisted  the  measures  of  jus- 
tice to  tlie  laboring  classes,  as  "confounding  the  nobility  and 
the  clergy  Avith  the  rest  of  the  peoi)le." 

The  king  directed  Yergennes  to  comnumicate  liis  memo- 
rial on  the  colonies  to  Turgot,  avIioso  written  opinion  npon 
it  was  recpiired.  Yergeinies  obeyed,  reconunending  to  his 
colleague  seci-ecy  and  celerity,  for  Spain  was  atixiously  wait- 
ing the  determination  of  the  court  of  France.  Turgot  took 
niore  than  three  Aveeks  for  delibei-ation,  allowed  full  course  to 
his  idea.^,  and  on  tlic  sixth  of  April  gave  the  king  this  ad- 
vice : 

•'  AVhatcver  may  or  ought  to  be  the  Avish  of  the  tAvo  croAvns, 
nothing  can  arrest  the  course  of  events  Avhich  sooner  or  later 
Avili  certainly  bring  about  the  independence  of  the  English 
colonies,  and,  as  an  inevitable  consequence,  a  total  revolution 
in  the  relations  of  Eurojie  and  America.     The  Anglo  Ameri- 
can enthusiasts  for  liberty  may  be  overwhelmed  ])y^force,  but 
their  Avill  can  never  be  broken.     If  their  country  is  laid  waste, 
they  may  disperse  themselves  among  the  boundless,  inacces- 
sible backwoods,  and,  from  the  depths  of   their  retreats,  be 
alAA-ays  ready  to  trouble  the  English  establishments  on  their 
coasts.     If  their  country  is  reduced  Avitliout  a  universal  devas- 
tation, the  courage  of  the  colonists  Avill  be  like  a  sprir.g,  which 
remains  bent  only  so  long  as  an  undiminished  pressure  Aveighs 


'"■  't: 


''■•,  en.  jTxiii. 
1  America 

L'lisaMo  to 
:he  height 
uo  of  the 
ill  conjcG- 
blc  is  that 

eons  with 
ce  to  the 
it  refused 
pared  for 
vinpjdoin ; 
ly  by  tlio 
oiistrance 
■es  of  jus- 
nlity  and 

is  mcmo- 
iou  upon 
g  to  his 
sly  wait- 
got  toolc 
course  to 
this  ad- 

)  crowns, 
•  or  later 

English 
volution 
)  Anieri- 
>rce,  but 
d  waste, 

inacces- 
rcats,  be 
on  their 
d  dcvas- 
^,  which 
J  weighs 


1770. 


A^fEUIOA  SEEKS  FOIIKIGN-  AID. 


3G7 


it  down.    The  project  of  the  English  ministry  is  the  most  ex- 
travagant which  can  be  conceived. 

"Should  the  English  government,  after  coatly  efforts,  fail 
In  its  plans  againct  the  c(jl()nies,  it  w.ll  hardly  be  disposed  at 
on(!e  to  form  enterprises  for  compensation  at  the  exi)ense  of 
Erance  and  Spain,  when  it  will  have  lost  the  ])  )iut  of  support 
needed  for  success. 

"  The  present  war  will  probably  end  in  the  absolute  inde- 
pendence of  the  coloiues,  and  that  event  will  r-tainly  be  the 
epoch  of  the  greatest  revolution  in  the  commerce  and  politics 
not  of  England  only,  but  of  all  Europe.  Erom  the  i)mdent 
conduct,  the  courage,  and  intelligence  of  the  Americans,  we 
may  augur  that  they  will  take  care,  above  all  things,  to  give  a 
solid  form  to  their  government ;  and,  as  a  consequence,  t'luy 
will  love  peace  and  seek  to  preserve  it. 

"The  rising  republic  will  have  only  to  open  its  harbors  to 
all  nations.  Sooner  or  later,  with  goo(f-will  or  from  necessity, 
all  European  nations  who  have  colonies  will  be  obliged  to  leave 
them  an  entire  liberty  of  trade,  to  regard  them  no  more  as 
subject  provinces  but  as  friendly  states,  distinct  and  separate 
even  if  protected.  This  the  independence  of  the  En<dish  col- 
onies will  hievitably  hasten.  Then  the  illusion  which  has 
lulled  our  politicians  for  two  centuries  will  be  dispelled ;  it 
will  be  seen  that  power  foun.led  on  monopoly  is  precarious 
and  frail,  and  that  the  restrictive  system  was  useless  and  chi- 
merical at  the  very  time  when  it  d  ■       '  M.e  most. 

"  If  this  is  an  evil,  there  is  ■  -eventing  it,  and 

no  course  to  l)e  taken  but  resig-      .  i^te  necessity. 

The  powers  which  shall  obstinate  .one  the  less 

see  their  colonies  escape  from  theux,  .  heir  enemies 

instead  of  their  allies. 

"  The  yearly  cost  of  colonies  in  peace,  the  enormous  ex- 
penditures for  their  defence  in  war,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
It  is  more  advatitageous  for  us  to  grant  them  entire  indepen- 
dence, without  waiting  for  the  moment  when  events  will  com- 
pel^ us  to  give  them  up.  Wise  and  happy  will  be  that  nation 
which  shall  first  know  how  to  bend  to  the  new  circumstances, 
and  consent  to  see  in  its  colonies  allies  and  not  subjects. 
When  the  total  separation  of  America  shall  have  healed  the 


m 


Iff  f' 


.;  u 


'  } 


I 

XJ        T 


I 


ru ' 


i  I 


i  ii 


u 


m 


•,WS        AMKUICA  AI:MS  FOR  SliLF-DEFEXCK.     ki-  in. ;  ,  „.  x^m 

iMiropt-aii  nations  (»f  tlu>  jcaloiisy  of  voumn  v-,  thcro  will 
ivxist  amoii^r  „h,„  „iu'  ^.n-at  cans,.  „f  war  tlu-  less,  and  it  in  wry 
(iillicnlt  n..t  to  (Ksiiv  an  event  whieh  k  toaccoi.iplish  tl.is^r,,o(i 
f"i-  the  inmian  lace.  In  our  eoKmiej*  we  »^l.all  Kive  nuuiy  mill- 
ions; and,  if  we  aecjniro  the  lihertj  of 'jonnneree  and  iiavi^M- 
tion  with  all  the  northern  continent,  we  shall  he  amply  eoni- 
pensvted. 

"  rnlia:>pily,  Spain  has  less  faeilitv  than  any  other  p.)wer  to 
(]uit  the  route  that  she  has  followed  for  two  ci"nturies,  and  eon- 
lorni  to  a  new  order  of  thin-s.     She  has  made  i.o  prepara- 
tions tosulMtituto  for  empire  oyer  her  American  proyinees  a 
fraternal  eonnection   founded  on   the  identity  of  ori^nn,  lan- 
guage, and  manners,  without  the  opi)osition  of  interests;  to 
olFer  them   liherty  as  a  gift,  instead  of  yielding  it  to  foree. 
Nothhig  is  more  worthy  of  the  wisdom  of  the  king  of  Spain' 
and  his  eou:   '11  than  from  this  jjreseiit  timo  to  fix  their  atten- 
tion on  the  possihility  of  this  forced  reparation,  and  on  the 
nieaoures  to  he  taken  to  prepare  for  it. 

"It  is  u  very  delicate  cpu'stiou  to  know  if  wo  can,  under- 
hand, lielp  the  Americans  t«.  anmiunition  or  money.  There  is 
no  dillicnlty  in  shutting  our  eyes  on  their  purchases  in  our 
ports;  our  merchants  are  free  to  sell  to  any  ^yho  will  huy  of 
them;  we  do  not  distinnuish  the  colonists  from  the  Kngl'isli ; 
but  to  aid  the  Americans  with  money  would  excite  in  the'^En.r- 
lish  just  comi)laints.  '^ 

"  Combining  all  circumstances,  it  may  certainly  be  believed 
that  tlic  English  ministry  does  not  desire  war,  and'  our  prepara- 
tions ought  to  tend  only  to  tlie  malntenajico  of  peace.     Pea-o 
IS  the  preference  of  tbe  king  of  France  and  the  king  of  Spain. 
Every  plan  of  aggrc  ^,ion  ought  to  be  rejected,  first  of  all  from 
uioral  reasons.     To  tliese  are  to  be  added  the  reason.s  of  inter- 
est, drawn  from  the  situation  of  the  two  powers.     Spain  Iuls 
nut  in  her  magazines  the  rcqm'rements  for  arming  ships-of- 
war,  and  cannot  in  time  of  need  assemble  a  due  nund)er  of 
sailors,  nor  count  on  the  ability  and  experience  of  her  naval 
officers.     Her  finances  could  not  sufncc  for  years  of  extraor- 
dinary effoi-ts. 

"As  for  us,    he  king  knows  tliat,  in  spite  of  ccoTionn'es 
and  ameliorations  since  the  beginuing  of  Im  reign,  the  ex- 


I  i 


n. ;  I'll.  \xiu 

flu'iv  will 
(I  it  is  vi'ry 
li  tliispiod 
iiuuiv  iiiilJ. 
lul  naviira- 
111  ply  coin- 

!•  power  to 
s,  and  coii- 
o  [(ivpara- 
•I'ovinc'i's  a 
ri^iii,  lan- 
erosts ;  to 

to  fc.ree. 

of  Spjiin 
ic'ir  attcn- 
id  on  tliu 

111,  iindcT- 

Tliero  ia 

L\s  in  our 

ill  Imy  of 

Kn<^lisli ; 

tliu  Enir- 

lu'lieved 

•  prc'para- 

Peaco 

i)f  Spain. 

all  from 
of  intcr- 
>pain  luus 

ships-of- 
iinhcr  of 
or  naval 

extn.or- 

'ononiies 
the  ox- 


177t1. 


AMKRicA  ai.:i-:!:s  foijkkin  aih 


•m 

ix.n<iit..re  ..x.-ords  the  n-vcuu-  l.y  twonty  M.illions  ;  tl- ,  .idirit 
can  „o  n.adc.  ^n.od    nly  hy  an  in.-n-asc  „f  t.x.s,  „  p.rt.al  I) 
n.|>.T,orfn,,a!ity.     Tlu.  Idn,  fron.  M.o  tirst  l.as\.;     ! ,        j. 
^nvtUodoi  !,aMkrupt(.y,  and  an  inrroas.  <,f  taxc.  in  ,!;..!;;,;• 
IH'HCf;  but  trn..ali,y  n.pmvH  n..tl.in^.  I.ut  a  linn  will.     At  Imh 
accosH.on,  Imh  lu.ancv.s  wore  involved,  l.is  annv  and  navy  in  . 
Htao  of  weakness   that  wa«  .carec.iy  t.  have  hec-n   in.a,.i„ed 
lM>.   an  unavo.dal.le  wa:-,  resoureen  eonid  he  f,Huu|.  1,,,^  war 
ou,d,    to  he  shunne,!  >u,  the  .n-oatest  of  nusfortuneH,  sine 
v..nld  rende,-  unpossihK.,  perhaps  for<>ver,  a  refonn,  ahsohd..|v 

Tnr^.,v,  ha.l  heer.  one  of  the  first  to  foretell  an<l  to  desiro 
.0  nul..pendenee  of  tlu-  eolonies  as  the  n.eans  of  re^.enera(in« 

•^''>n^o(   V,.,,lnn^.ton;  hut,  as  a  n.inister  of  his  eountry,  ho 

Wc^a    p:.s.n.even(sllnou,,h(heelearn^^^^ 
mmateil  hy  integrity. 

The  n.ind  of  France  aspired  to  „ITer  lih,-rty  a  home     -  I.',,. 

n>y  part  'reasoned  (Muu^tellux, '' I  think  the,v  ean  he  nein.e 
•l"';^  '!''  I'lHTty  nor  happiness  hut  for  nations  who  have  re,  v- 
Bent..fve  ,.>vernnu«nts."     '^  I   think  ho  too/'  ren.arke<l  the  <,e- 
to^^enanan,  Voltan-e.     "  T.,.  ri,,d.t  of  sclf.uhninistrafion  "  said 
Malesherl.es  to  Louis  XVI.,  as  he  threw  up  his  n.inistry   '<  , 
longs  to  every  connnunity;  it  is  a  natural  nVht,  the  nVj.t  of 

r«  JMk,  ..  est  eouueil  for  a  kin.  is  the  niuion  iMl-  ' 
he  puhhe  n.nul  appli<.d  itself  to  in.proviug  the  condition  of 
the  connnon  people.    (I.astellu.x,  in  his  work  on  puhlie  felicity 
which  was  just  tluM,  circulating^  in  Paris,  with  the  motto  nkv.k 
DKSPAIK  a^n-eed  with  a  Scottish  writer  on  u.orals,  that  -the 
Bole  end  of  all  p:overmnent  and  the  universal  aim  of  all  „hi- 
<.sophy  should  he  the  greatest  happiness  of  the  greatest  nlnn- 
oer.       i  urgot,  hy  ]i,s  earnest  jnirposo  to  restrain  i)ro(l'-/rute  ex- 
penditure and  lighten  the  grievous  hurdens  of  tlu   people 
Beeme.1  cal  ed  forth  hy  Provi.len.-e  to  prop  the  falling  {in-one,' 
an'l    lolu  hack  the  nohility  from  iho  fat lu.ndess  chaos  toward 
which  they  were  drifting.      Yet  he  could  look  nowhere  for 
Pupport  h,it  to  the  king,  who  had  no  iixed  princij.le  and  there- 
lorc  no  stability  of  jxirpose. 

VOL.    IV, 21 


<        < 
1 


i^il 


i' 


I  4 


t 
■ 

i    '. 

4  '■]        I 

■."     *'      '■ 

■\: 

.  r 

!^ 

,s 


i  i 


.•570  AMI'.IMCA  Aims  KOIi  SKI^K-DEFKNCK.     icr.  m. ;  <ii.  xxiii. 

Tu !>;;«>(,  who,  like  MalcslicHH's,  Ik'UcnhhI  in  tlic  iiiipn'scripti- 
hli'  v'\'^]\\  ol'  m:m  (o  lii(>  t'nr  iis(>  of  liis  powers  wished  ili;it  Ihe 
I'xeciilive  chief  shoiihl  prolil  hy  (he  comisels  of  the  eolleeted 
wisdom  of  Ihe  iialio;i;  I»iit  lie  stood  without  aiiv  sii|)])ort  in 
(lie  cahiiiet.  Courtiers,  luirliaiiiiMits,  tlie  guilds  of  tradesiiieii, 
the  nohIi>  i)ro|.rie(()rs  of  lands,  opposi-d  liiiii ;  ("ouiit  d'Artois, 
the  kiiip;"s  hrolh.er,  railed  at  him,  as  iiiidermiiuii-;-  (he  uohihty, 
the  bulwark  and  sii|)|)ort  of  the  throne;  the  police  favored  the 
privileo-.'d  classes.  Tiir^'ol  must  eiOier  (hrou.-.':h  the  kint!;  he- 
e(.mi>  all  prevaiiii)--.  or  -•<►  into  private  litV.  Maurepas  iiisinu- 
aled  lo  (he  kino-  (|,a(  discontent  pervaded  l''rance,  and  tliat 
it  had  Turoi.t  aloiu>  for  its  object;  (hat  it  was  not  best  to 
wait  \'ov  his  resionati(»n,  for  he  mio-jit  <r\\v  as  his  reason  for 
(head  thai  he  was  hindered  in  the  aecom|tlislmient  of  <>-oo(|. 
On  the  (welflh  of  Mav,  therefore,  he  was  dismissed  as  ono 
who  was  iioi  suited  lo  his  place. 

Sailin(>  had  alwavs  supported  tlie  American  pcdlcv  of  Ver- 
pMuics,  and  had  pleaded  with  (h(>  kin^-  b.r  (li(«  eoh»nies  and  for 
India.     "  If  the  navy  oi'  France,"  said   Iii>,  "were  at  this  nio- 
nuMil   able  to  act.  Kranee  never  had   a    fain-r  opportunity  (o 
aveii-e  (lie  mu'easino-  insults  of  the  JMi-iish.      1  besirch  your 
maje^!y  (o  consider  that  Kni>'land,  by  its  most  cherished  i"n(er- 
ests,  iis   national   character,  its   form  of  i;ovenimeiil,  and    its 
jiosition,  is  and  always  will  be  (he  true,  the  only,  and  (lu'  eter- 
nal enemy  of   JM-ance.     Sire,  with   l^nnland  no  calculation  is 
admissible  bu!  that  of  her  inten>sts  and   her  capi-ices;  (hat  is, 
of  the  harm  (ha!  slu'  can  do  us.      In  IT;.,'),  at  a  time  of  perfect 
peaei>,  tlu>  Knylisli  attaekinl  your  ships,  proving' (h;,t  (hey  hold 
nothiuir  sacred.     We  liave  every  reason  to  fi>ai'  (hat.  whatever 
may  Ite  (he  issue  oi'  (heir  war  with  (he  insuru-iMits,  they  will 
take  advantn_i>v  of  their  armament  to  fall  iijion  your  colonies 
«>r  i>orls.      Your  minister  would  be  charovable  with  ii'iiilt  if  ho 
dul  not  repn^seiit  to  your  majesty  thi«  necessity  of  adoptiiiij  tho 
most  eiru-acioiis  measures  to  parry  the  bad   failh  of  your  natu- 
ral enemies." 

These  siii>:iv,N(Ions  were  reciMVi'd  with  a  passive  acMpiioR- 
ivnee;  the  kiii_u-  neither  eomprehended  nor  heeded  Tnr^-ot's 
adviee,  which  was  put  aside  by  Vernvnnes  as  speculative  and 
irrelevant.     Th(>  corresnondenee  with  Madrid  euutiiuicd  ;  (.hi 


.;  «'ii.  XXIII. 

|)i-(>s('ri|)(i- 
(1  lliiit  (ho 

1  ('olll>CtO(l 

iipporf  in 

(T  Ai'hiis, 
'  iKihilify, 
ivori'd  tiio 
'  I<iM_i>;  1)0- 
>;is  iiisiim- 

.111(1  lliat 
it  l)csf  to 
•casoii   for 

of  j;'0(»(I. 

-'(1    lis    OHO 
V  of    VtT- 

's  jukI  lor 

this  nio- 
•fiiiiity  (i» 
roll  your 
lied  iiilcr- 
,  iiiid    ils 

tlio  otor- 
iilatioii  is 

;  tliat  is, 
>r  i)orro('t 

hoy  hold 
whatovor 
thoy  will 

coionios 
iiiit  if  lio 
ptiiijj;  tho 
i>ur  iiatu- 

ac(inioR- 

I  iiri;'ot  s 

itive  and 

od;  Chi 


I77ii. 


AMKRk'A    SKHKS    FOUI'KJN   AID. 


..-J 


'>( 


iniddi,  (Iio  (J.Miooso  advontuivr  who  slill  was  minisf,.,-  for  f<„.. 
oi^irn  allairs,  coniplainod  of  Kn-Iand  for  tho  aid  it  ha.l  rcKh-rod 
tho  ononii.s  of  Spain    in    Monnro,  in   AI-(.ria,  and  noar  Iho 
l"lipi>nio  ish's,  approvod  of  sondin^ir  uid  clandostinoly  to  (ho 
Kn-luh   ooh.nios,   an<l,   in    an   anto-raph   lottor,   withont    (iio 
l<n.)wlod-o  ovon  of  tiu>  lunhassadors  of  the  two  courts,  proni- 
isod  to  h.>ar  a  part  of  (ho  oxpons(.,  provide,]  tlio  supplies  could 
IH'  sent  ironi   French  ports  in  such  a  manner  that  (li.<  i,ur(i<.i- 
piifion  of  the  (Vtholic   kin-  couM   1„.  disavowed.     Wh.-n   on 
t.-o  twentj-sixth  of  April,  the   I'Vench  ministry  held  a  confer- 
ence wi(h  (he  Spanish  aml.assador,  to  considcr'the  dan.-vr  tint 
""""="''■'1  "i^'  <^v'>  I<iM^'.lo.ns  and  (he  necessity  of  prepa'rin..  for 
Mar,  ne,(lu-r  Tiir-ot  nor  Malesherhes  was  present.     Ver.-cMines 
was  lelt  (o   follow  the  precedent  set  I,y  Kno-land  dnrin-  tho 
trou  .I(>s  in  (\,rsica.     Afd-r  a  year's  hesitation  and  resist^nice 
the  k.no-ol  France,  ,,,rly  in  ^fay,  informed  (he  l<in^r  of  Spain 
<l-:it  he  ha.l  resolved,  under  the  nanu-  of  a  commercial   honse 
|o  :idvanc,>  a    million   of    French   livres,  ahout   two   hundred' 
thousand  .lollars,  toward  (lu-  supply  of  the  wants  of  tli«.  Aineri- 
('.'ins:  (h,.  CailK.Iic  kino-,  af((>r  ii  few  weeks'  delay,  assio,,in..  a 
l:tls,>  ivason  at  his  own  treasury  for  demandinir  the  money  ami 
"dn.Kdn-  no  man  in  Spain   into  the  secret  of  it.s  destination 
except  (;rimaldi,  remitted  t..  Paris  a  draft  lor  a  million  livres 
|"'»'''^-    ''^<>  n-'Mumarchais,  who  was  fre(ful  at  tlK>  loui^  p.-.-i,,,!  „f 
indecision  on  Ai.H-rican  alTairs,  Vc-r-ennes  replied":  -  Do  not 
<"•'!<   :.dvice  rejected   hecause   it  is  not  (>ao(.,-lv  a<]..pted  ;  all 
shnnher  is  not  a  I..fliaro:y."     The   French  cuu'rt   resolv.-d   hy 
I'H-reasin-  the  subsidy  to  enconrao-,,  tho  insiir-ents  to  perse- 
voro;  and,  in  early  snmnier,  II.Muniarchais  announced  to  Ar- 
thur  Leo  that   li,>  was  aiidiorized   to   pnunise  (he  Americans 
assistance'  to  th.>  amount  of  two  hiindrea  thousand  louis  .IWs 
nearly  oiu>  million  of  dollars.  ' 

•'•"•  ='  niom,>nt  (he  friends  of  thv  oppressed  in  Franco  liad 
'•'*>  "  iHMiKifiil  and  a  peaceful  d.vam  ;  hut  it  passed  away, 
loavm-  the  monarchy  of  France  to  totter,  and  its  jn-oplo  to 
itwake  at  (Ii.>  exampl,.  of  the  western  world.  T!ie  new  min- 
ister of  (inance  was  Do  Huv^ny,  a  protlio,,te  statesman,  who 
!if  once  conciliated  support  hy  renouncinu^  ail  measiiiv-.  (.f  rc- 


i    ( 


'   I 


J-ll 


I' 


,      t 


fori 


T 


«>  what  mas(i>rs,  vo  aToat  -nids,  d 


o  ye  o'ive  u[)  tho 


r,  f 


<'  i 


372         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  CH.  xsni. 


universe !  ^'  exclaimed  Condorcet.  In  parting  witli  Maleslier- 
bes,  the  king  discarded  liis  truest  personal  friend ;  in  Turgot, 
rrench  monarchy  lost  its  firmest  support,  the  nobility  its  only 
possible  savior;  but  no  one  was  left  in  the  cabinet  who  was 
able  to  restrain  the  government  from  yielding  to  the  rising 
enthusiasm  for  America.  So  tangled  is  the  web  of  history ! 
The  retirement  of  the  two  men  who  were  the  apostles  of  liberty 
pushed  foi-ward  the  cause  of  human  freedom,  though  by  ir- 
rsgulai-  and  disorderly  movem^ents. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  century  the  great  philosopher  Leib- 
nitz had  found  traces  of  the  opinions  of  Epicuras  and  Si)i- 
noza  in  the  books  that  were  most  in  vogue,  and  in  the  men 
of  the  great  world  who  were  the  masters  of  affairs ;  and  he 
foretold  in  consequence  a  general  overturn  in  Europe.     "  The 
generous  sentiment  which  prefers  country  and  the  general  good 
to  life,"  he  said,  "is  dying  out;  public  spirit  is  no  more  in 
fashion,  and  has  lost  the  support  of  good  morals  and  true 
religion ;  the  ruling  motive  in  the  best  is  honor,  and  that  is  a 
principle  which  tolerates  anything  but  baseness,  does  not  con- 
demn shedding  a  deluge  of  blood  from  ambition  or  caprice, 
and  might  suffer  a  Herostratus  or  a  Don  Juan  to  pass  for  a 
hero ;  patriotism  is  mocked  at,  and  the  well-intentioned  who 
speak  of  what  will  become  of  posterity,  are  answered  by  say- 
ing that  posterity  may  see  to  that.     If  this  mental  epidemic 
goes  on  increasing.  Providence  will  correct  mankind  by  the 
revolution  which  it  must  cause.'' 

Later  in  the  eighteenth  century  M^esley,  like  Leibnitz,  pre- 
dicted the  approach  of  revolution  in  Eurojje.  Men  had  more 
and  more  thrown  off  the  importunate  fear  of  an  overruling 
Providence,  and  would  no  longer  know  of  anything  more  god- 
like than  themselves.  They  refused  to  look  for  anything  bet- 
ter ;  the  belief  in  the  divine  reason  was  derided  like  the  cower- 
ing at  spectres  and  hobgoblins ;  and  the  worship  of  humanity 
became  the  prevailing  idolatry.  Art  was  connuissioned  to 
gratify  taste ;  morality  had  for  its  office  to  increase  pleasure ; 
forgetting  that  the  highest  liberty  consists  in  being  forced  by 
right  reason  to  choose  the  best,  men  cherished  sensualism  as  a 
system,  and  self-indulgence  was  the  law  of  courts  and  aristocra- 
cies.    An  mireasoiiing  soliishness  assumed  that  creative  power 


I 


. ;  CH.  xxni. 

Maleslier- 
n  Turgot, 
:y  its  only 
t  who  was 
the  rising 
[  history! 
of  hberty 
gh  by  ir- 

•her  Leib- 
aud  Spi- 
the  men 
i ;  and  he 
3.     "  The 
eral  good 
more  in 
and  true 
that  is  a 
not  con- 
f  caprice, 
)ass  for  a 
•ued  who 
d  by  say- 
epidemic 
1  by  the 

litz,  pre- 
lad  more 
erruling 
ore  god- 
ling  bet- 
e  coAver- 
umanity 
oiied  to 
)leasure ; 
)rced  by 
'ism  as  a 
ristocra- 
e  power 


1776. 


AMERICA  SEEKS  FOREIGN  AID. 


373 

was  exhausted ;  that  nothing  was  to  be  done  but  to  keep  things 
as  they  are.  ° 

To  renounce  the  search  for  eternal  truth  passed  for  wisdom ; 
the  notion  that  there  can  be  no  cognition  of  the  immutable  and 
the  divine  was  extolled  as  the  perfection  of  enlightened  cult- 
ure, the  highest  end  of  intellectual  striving.    Men  cherished 
no  wish  for  anything  beyond  appearances  and  vain  show.    The 
prevailing  philosophy  in  its  arrogance  was  proud  of  its  chains. 
It  not  only  derided  the  infinite  in  man,  but  it  jeer    1  at  the 
thought  that  there  is  an  infinite  with  which  man  can  commune. 
It  scoffed  at  all  knowledge  that  transcends  the  senses,  and  lim- 
ited itself  to  the  inferior  lessons  of  experience ;  dethroning  the 
beautiful  for  the  agreeable,  the  right  for  the  useful,  the  'true 
for  the  seeming;  knowing  nothing  of  a  universal  moral  gov- 
ernment, referring  everything  to  the  self  of  the  individual. 
Hume  brought  this  system  to  the  test,  and,  applying  doubt  to 
Its  lessons,  laid  bare  its  corruption.     His  searching  skepticism 
was  the  bier  on  which  the  philosophy  of  materialism  was  laid 
out  m  state,  where  all  the  world  might  come  and  see  that  it 
really  was  no  more.     But,  while  he  taught  the  worid  that  it 
led  :o  nothingness,  he  taught  nothing  in  its  stead.     He  might 
o]-.pose  the  war  with  America,  because  it  threatened  to  mort- 
gage all  the  revenues  of  the  land  in  England ;  but,  ever  wel- 
come at  the  Bourbon  palace  and  acceptable  to  George  III.,  he 
had  proft-ssed  to  prove  that  tyrants  should  not  be  deposed, 
that  the  euthanasia  of  the  British  constitution  would  be  abso- 
lutism.    Skepticism  may  strike  worn-out  institutions  into  ruins, 
but  it  cannot  build  up  a  commonwealth ;  there  must  be  a  new 
birth  in  philosophy,  or  all  is  lost  in  the  world  of  reflection ;  in 
political  life  there  can  be  no  renovation  but  through  that  in- 
born faith  in  the  right  which  always  survives  in  the  people. 
Let  the  skeptic  aristocracies  and  despotisms  of  Europe  make 
way  for  a  people  who  have  power  to  build  up  the  home  of  hu- 
manity because  they  have  faith  in  etenial,  unchanging  justice, 
and  trust  in  that  overruling  foresight  which  brings  forth  bet- 
ter things  out  of  evil  and  out  of  good. 


ri 


It 


1 

t:    (     ' 

'          ''  _'] 

m 


) .« 


■:f  f)" 


i' 


\  1 


874        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  feELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  Ill, ;  en.  XXIV. 


CHAPTER  xxiy. 

THE    LKITISir    KECOVEK    CANADA.       KORTII    CAKOLINA    DECLAKE8 

FOK   INDEPENDENCE. 

January- July  177G. 

The  year  1775,  as  it  opened,  found  the  British  in  the  un- 
disputed possession  of  all  the  thirteen  American  colonies 
Before  the  campaign  for  1770  could  begin,  they  had  been 
driven  from  New  England,  and  every  governor  had  abandoned 
his  post  excepting  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  under  arrest, 
and  m  JMaryland,  where  he  was  an  officer  of  the  proprietary  and 
was  left  free  on  parole. 

The  British  plan  of  campaign  for  the  coining  season  was  the 
earliest  possible  relief  of  Quebec  and  the  recovery  of  Canada 
by  an  army  which  was  to  advanre  by  way  of  Montreal,  Lake 
Creorge  and  Ticonderoga  to  Albany,  and  thus  insulate  New 
England,  of  which  the  reduction  was  reserved  to  the  last.  At 
the  same  time  Howe  was  to  occupy  the  city  of  New  York  and 
quickly  redrce  the  middle  states.  The  harbor  of  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  was  so  alluring  that,  with  Howe's  a])proval,  it 
was  to  be  occupied  by  a  garrison.  The  winter  months,  before 
the  campaign  in  the  North  could  be  undertaken,  ^vere  to  be 
employed  in  restoring  the  king's  authority  in  the  South. 

There  remained  near  Quebec  about  four  hundred  Americans 
and  as  many  wavering  Canadians.  Carleton,  in  the  well-i)ro- 
visioned  and  strongly  fortified  town,  had  twice  as  many  as  both. 

The  chief  command  of  the  Americans  devolved  on  boos- 
ter, a  frugal  l^^y,  England  Calvinist,  bred  in  the  hatred  of 
popery,  inexiierienced  in  war,  and  aged.  The  Creen  Mountain 
boys  ho  sunuuuuod  to  come  down 


by  iifti 


ics  or  even 


by  ten 


IS,  as 


on.  xsiv. 


1776. 


THE  BRITISH  RECOVER  CANADA. 


375 


men. 


fast  as  parties  could  bo  collected ;  of  Washington  he  as 
heavy  cannon,  and  mortars;  to  congress  and  to  Schuyler  he 
wrote:  "We  shall  want  everything"— men,  ordnance,  and 
money ;  "  hard  cash  we  must  have,  or  starve,  or  quit  the  comitry, 
or  lay  it  under  contribution." 

Wcishington,  without  waiting  to  consult  congress,  recom- 
mended to  Massachusetts,  Comiecticut,  and  New  Hampshire 
each  to  raise  and  send  forward  a  regiment  on  behalf  of  the 
continent ;  and  the  three  colonies  eagerly  met  his  call,  for  they 
strongly  desired  the  annexation  of  Canada.  Congress  ordered 
one  regiment  from  Philadelphia  and  another  from  New  Jer- 
sey, to  be  soon  followed  by  four  or  five  more,  and  encouraged 
western  New  Hampshire  to  contribute  a  ivgiment. 

In  the  first  moments  of  sorrow  at  Montgomery's  fall,  citi- 
zens undertook  \vith  alacrity  a  march  of  many  miles,  through 
snow  and  over  frozen  lakes,  without  tents,  to  a  country  in  that 
rigorous  season  almost  inaccessible.  Their  unanimity,  zeal,  and 
perseverance  called  forth  hopes  of  their  success. 

The  expulsion  of  the  British  from  Boston  had  amazed  the 
Six  Nations,  and  taught  them  not  to  rely  on  British  arms  for 
protection.  James  Deane  was  sent  with  a  returning  deputa- 
tion to  treat  with  them.  The  twenty-eighth  of  March  was 
given  by  their  great  council  to  acts  of  consolation  for  those  lost 
in  the  M-ar ;  on  the  next  day  new  trees,  as  they  exj)ressed  it,  were 
raised  in  the  place  of  chiefs  who  had  fallen,  and  their  names 
published  to  the  Six  Nations.  On  the  thii-ty-first  the  confed- 
erated tribes  gave  each  other  pledges  to  observe  a  strict  neu- 
trality in  the  present  (luarrcl. 

But  to  maintain  a  foothold  in  Canada,  there  was  need  of 
the  strong  support  of  its  ])eo[)le.  Tlie  Canadian  clei-gy,  in  their 
zeal  for  Britain,  refused  absolution  to  the  friends  of  the 
Americans ;  the  nobility  thought  only  for  the  safety  of  their 
privileges ;  and,  without  the  support  of  their  priests  or  their 
feudal  superiors,  the  uncertain  people  could  not  be  solidly 
organized.  Congress  had  no  troops  except  on  short  enlist- 
ments. Moreover,  Quebec  and  Montreal  were  reached  more 
readily  from  England  by  the  Atlantic  and  the  St.  Lawrence 
than  by  the  overland  route  from  the  colonies. 

For  four  months  Wooster  remained  the  highest  ofiicer  in 


I  mm 


'  n 


'■    I 


' 


:  mmv 


:!' 


i 


I   ! 


376         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ep.  m. ;  cii.  xxiv. 

Canada,  unequal  to  the  station  wliich  he  had  never  riought  and 
from  whieh  he  was  impatient  to  be  relieved.    Yet  he  was  ever 
ready,  in  case  of  need,  to  saeritice  his  life  for  his  country. 
In  the  early  part  of  his  conunand  he  wisely  arrested  Camp- 
bell, the  Indian  aj^vut  of  the  lJritish,and  La  Corne  Saint-Luc 
and  sent  them  out  of  the  province.     Uo  allowed  each  parish 
to  choose  its  own  officers,  thus  introducing  the  system  of  self- 
government  in  towns.     He  intended,  through  connnittecs  of 
safety  and  connnittecs  of  correspondence,  to  lead  the  way  to 
a  Canadian  convention  which   might  send   delegates  to  the 
American  cougress.     AVith  Schuyler,  who  was  far  the  more 
testy  of  the  two,  he  had  constant  bickerings,  which  divided 
the  opinion  of  congress. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  Wooster  appeared  near  Quebec. 
Scattered  on  both  sides  of   the  river  and   at  great  distances 
trom  each  other  lay  about  two  thousand  Americans,  of  whom 
not  many  more  than  half  were  a])le  to  do  duty.     IJow  to  lind 
food  for  them  was  a  great  difficidty.     Their  batteries  were  in- 
signihcant,  then-  store  of  ammunition  most  scanty ;  there  were- 
no  engmeers  and  few  artillerists.     One  half  of  the  troops  who 
had  wmtcrod  m  Canada,  and  Livingston's  regiment  of  abo-t 
two  hundred  Canadians  would  be  free  in  fourteen  days,  and 
would  certainly  refuse  to  remain.   Arnold,  who  had  been  made 
a  brigadier,  witlidrew  to  Montreal,     The  Canadian  peasantry 
had  been  forced  to  furnish  wood  and  other  articles  at  less 
than  the  market  price,  or  for  certilicates,  and  felt  themselves 
outraged  by  the  arbitrariness  of  the  military  occupation.     Of 
the  more  cultivated  classes,  French  and  English,  seven  eighths 
were  wilhng  to  assist  in  repelling  the  invaders. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  "the  congress,  bein<r  of 
opinion  that  the  reduction  of  Quebec  and  the  general  security 
ot  the  province  of  Canada  ^^•ere  objects  of  great  concern,"  di- 
rected \rashington  to  detach  four  battalions  into  Canada.  lie 
received  the  or.ler  while  yet  in  Iloston  ;  having  completed  the 
arrangements  for  sending  to  JN^nv  York  such  troops  as  were 
then  under  his  immediate  command,  he  reached  that  city  on 
the  thirteenth  of  April,  and  made  it  his  first  duty  to  speed  four 
>attah<;ns  to  Canada.  "  Too  much  desp.tcli,"  wrote  congress, 
cannot  be  used  in  sending  the  battalion  to  (Quebec,  as  it  fre- 


1^    ! 


I. ;  OH.  XXIV. 

Diiglit  and 
e  was  ever 
i  connti'v. 
ed  Cainp- 
Saint-Luc, 
icli  parisli 
■ui  of  sclf- 
uittecs  of 
he  way  to 
es  to  the 
the  more 
li  divided 

1'  Qiiel)cc. 
distances 
of  whom 
w  to  tind 
5  were  in- 
lere  were- 
oo]>s  who 
of  abo"t 
;lays,  aiid 
3eu  made 
peasantry 
!S  at  less 
emselves 
ion.     Of 
1  eighths 

jeing  of 
security 
ern,"  di- 
da.  He 
eted  the 
1  as  were 
city  on 
eed  four 
'ongress, 
IS  it  fre- 


1770. 


TUE   B.HITISII  RECOVER  CxiNADA. 


377 


qncntly  happens  that  a  week,  a  day,  even  an  lioiir,  proves  deci- 
sive." IJut  before  this  letter  was  received  the  brigade  was  sail- 
ing up  the  Hudson.  On  the  twenty-tliird  of  A[)ril,  Congress, 
without  even  consulting  the  connnander-in-chief,  suddenly 
gave  him  the  order  to  detach  six  additional  battalions  for 
service  in  Canada,  and  inquired  of  him  if  he  could  sjxvre  more. 
Late  at  niglit  on  the  twenty-tifth  he  received  the  order  by 
express;  his  elective  force  consisted  of  but  eight  thousand 
three  hundred  and  one ;  he  resigned  himself  to  the  ill-consid- 
ered votes  of  congress,  and  detached  six  of  his  best  battalions, 
containing  more  than  three  thousand  men,  at  a  time  when  the 
British  ministry  was  directing  against  New  York  thirty  thou- 
sand veteran  tro()i)s.  The  command  of  the  brigade  was  given 
to  Sullivan  ;  among  its  officers  were  Stark  and  lieed  of  Kew 
Hampshire,  Anthony  Wayne  and  Irvine  of  Pennsylvania. 
"  At  the  same  time,"  so  he  wrote  to  congress,  "  tnisting  Nev/ 
York  and  Hudson  river  to  the  handful  of  men  remaining 
hero  is  mniiing  too  great  a  risk.  The  general  officers  now  here 
think  it  absolutely  necessary  to  increase  tlio  army  at  this  place 
with  at  least  ten  thousand  men." 

But  congress,  having  stripped  Washington  of  about  haK 
his  ellective  force,  next  ordered  that  provisions,  powder  of 
which  his  stock  was  very  low,  and  articles  of  clothing  for  ten 
thousand  nien,  should  follow,  with  all  the  hard  money  which 
the  New  England  states  could  collect.  Montgomery  had  asked 
for  ten  thousand  men ;  they  were  resolved  to  miiintahi  that 
number  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  leaving  Washington  very  much 
to  his  own  devices  for  the  iirotection  of  New  York. 

For  Canada  a  general  was  wanted  not  less  than  an  army. 
Schuyler,  owning  himself  unable  to  manage  tlie  men  of  Con- 
necticut, proposed  to  himself  to  resign.  Thomas  of  M-dssa- 
ehusetts,  a  man  of  superior  ability  and  culture,  though  of  lit- 
tle experience,  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  major-general  and 
ordered  to  Quebec.  In  the  army  with  which  lie  Wiis  to  hold 
Canada,  the  small-pox  raged ;  he  had  never  been  inoculated, 
and  his  journey  to  the  camp  Avas  a  journey  to  meet  death  un- 
attended by  glory. 

He  was  closely  followed  by  Franklin,  Chase,  and  Charles 
Carroll,  whom  congress  had  counuissioued  to  promise  the  clergy 


Hi 


m  I 


m 


Si,.- 


i 


i    1:1 

;  1 1 


'■  : 

i;    : 


378        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III.  •    CII.  XXIV. 


'I'       I 


Kf! 


a  guarantee  of  their  estates ;  to  establish  a  free  press ;  to  allure 
the  people  of  Canada  by  the  prospect  of  a  free  trade  -ith  all 
nations;  to  set  up  a  government  ^'or  themselves,  and  join  the 
federal  union.  John,  the  brother  of  Charles  (JarroU,  a  Jesuit, 
aftenvard  archbishop  of  Baltimore,  came  with  them  in  the  hope 
of  moderating  the  opposition  of  the  Canadian  clergy.  The 
commissioners  discovered  on  their  arrival  a  general  expecta- 
tion that  the  Americans  would  be  driven  from  the  province ; 
without  hard  money  and  a  large  army  they  could  not  ask  the 
people  to  take  part  in  the  war. 

Thomas  arrived  near  Quebec  on  the  first  of  May,  and  em- 
ployed three  days  in  ascertaining  the  condition  of  his  com- 
mand, lie  found  one  thousand  six  huncbed  men,  including 
oificers,  beside  three  hundred  whose  enlistments  had  expired! 
The  sick  numbered  nine  hundred,  chiefly  of  the  small-pox 
which  had  raged  among  the  Americans  with  extreme  virulence, 
so  that  men  feared  to  be  near  one  another,  and  there  were 
officers  Avho  advised  to  inoculate  all  of  them  who  were  liable  to 
infection.  Of  efficient  men  there  Avere  but  seven  hundred ; 
and  of  these  not  more  than  three  hundred  could  be  rallied  at 
any  one  place.  In  all  the  magazines  there  remained  but  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder  and  six  days'  provi- 
sions. 

On  the  fifth  a  council  of  war  agreed  unanimously  to  pre- 
pare for  a  retreat.     The  decision  had  been  delayed  too  long. 
Early  on  the  sixth,  three  British  shi])s-of-war,  which  had  forced 
their  way  up  the  St.  Lawrence  when  it  was  almost  impracticable 
from  ice,  came  into  the  basin  and  lauded  their  marines  and  that 
part  of  tlie  tweiity-niuth  regiment  which  they  had  on  board ; 
and  not  far  from  noon,  while  the  Americanos  were  embarking 
their  sick  and  their  artillery,  about  one  thousand  men,  in  two 
divisions,  sallying  out  of  the  gates  of  St.  John  and  St.  Louis, 
attacked  the  American  sentinels  and  main  guard.     Thomas  at- 
tempted to  bring  his  men  under  arms ;  but,  unable  to  collect 
more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  on  the  plains,  he  directed  a 
retreat  to  Deschambault,  forty-eight  miles  above  Quebec.     The 
troops  fied  with  precii)itation,  leaving  their  provisions,  cannon, 
five  hundred  nmskets,  and  about  two  hundred  of  their  sick. 
Of  these,  one  IiaH  crept  away  to  the  Canadian  peasants,  by 


. ;  cii.  XXIV. 

;  to  allure 
le  -itli  all 
d  join  the 

I,  a  Jesuit, 
1  the  hope 
rgy.  The 
I  expecta- 
province ; 
ot  ask  the 

,  and  em- 
his  coin- 
including 
1  expired, 
small-pox 
v^irulence, 
lere  were 
3  liable  to 
hundred  ; 
rallied  at 
but  about 
rs'  provi- 

y  to  pre- 
too  long. 
id  forced 
•acticable 
and  that 
n  board ; 
nbarking 

II,  in  two 
5t.  Louis, 
lonias  at- 
:o  collect 
irected  a 
3C.     The 

cannon, 
eir  sick, 
lauts,  hy 


1776. 


THE  BRITISH  liECOVER  CANiiDA. 


379 


whom  they  were  nursed  with  tenderness ;  Carleton,  by  proc- 
lamation, opened  the  general  hospital  to  them  all,  with  leave  to 
return  home  on  their  recovery. 

At  Deschambault  it  was  ordered  that  the  half-starved  army 
should  not  attempt  to  make  a  stand  below  Sorel.  The  Enc^- 
lish  in  pursuit  burned  the  houses  of  the  French  who  had  be- 
friended the  rebels. 

On  the  eighth  the  forty-seventh  regiment  arrived  from 
Halifax,  and,  five  days  later,  more  transports  and  troops  fi-om 
Europe,  while  Thomas  remiained  fifteen  leagres  below  Mon- 
treal, at  Sorel.  That  city  was  ai)proached  on  the  north-west, 
near  the  pass  of  the  Cedars,  by  a  party  composed  of  forty 
regular  troops  from  the  station  at  Detroit,  a  hundred  Cana- 
dians, and  sevciiil  hundred  Indians.  The  troops  which  Ar- 
nold sent  to  the  Cedars  met  with  discomfitures  till  he  went  to 
their  relief;  the  Indians  violated  capitulations  by  saci-ificing 
American  prisoners  for  their  warriors  who  had  fallen. 

The  American  commissioners,  Franklin  and  hie  colleagues, 
observed  that  the  invaders  had  lost  the  afl'ections  of  the  Cana- 
dian people ;  that,  for  the  want  of  hard  money,  they  were  dis- 
tressed for  provisions  ;  that  they  were  incapable  of  exact  dis- 
cipline, because  sent  for  short  periods  of  service  ;  that,  always 
too  few  in  nmnbers,  they  Avere  wasted  by  the  small-pox ;  and 
they  unanimously  advised  immediately  to  withdraw  the  army 
from  Canada,  fortify  the  passes  on  the  lakes,  and  station  Sul- 
livan's brigade  at  Fort  George. 

^  But  congress  insolently  enjoined  Tliomas  to  "  display  his 
military  qualities  and  acquire  laurels."  Of  hard  money  it 
sent  forward  all  that  it  had,  which  was  sixteen  hundred  sixty- 
two  pounds,  one  shilling  and  threepence ;  and,  unable  to  collect 
more,  it  resolved  to  sujiply  the  troops  in  Canada  with  provi- 
sions and  clothing  from  the  othin*  colonies.  It  voted  the  ne- 
cessity of  keeping  possession  of  the  country  and  of  contesting 
every  foot  of  ground,  especially  on  the  St.  Lawrence  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Sorel.  But  the  campaign  in  Canada  was  decided 
before  its  votes  were  known. 

At  the  end  of  May  confusion  prevailed  in  every  depart- 
ment of  the  American  army.  Their  number  did  not  exceed 
four  thousand  men  of  whom  three  fourths  had  never  had  the 


"■»! 

ml 

jf 

Ir 

i 

j 
:     1 

i       !, 

'     I'll 
\ 

ill 

i  I 


iA 


1 

' 

.Jm 

Id 

'    I 


380         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EI'.  III.  ;  cil.  XXIV. 


small-pox;  many  of  tlieir  officers  were  incompetent.  They 
were  often  without  meat,  and  lived  by  levying  contributions  of 
meal. 

In  the  blindness  of  helpless  zeal,  on  the  first  day  of  Juno 
C(.n;,n-ess  resolved  »  that  six  thousand  militia  be  emi)k)yed  to  re- 
enforce  the  army  in  Canada,  and  to  keep  up  the  connnunication 
with  that  province  ;"  it  called  upon  Massachusetts  to  make  up 
half  that  number,  Connecticut  one  quarter,  New  Hampshire 
and  New  York  the  rest;  and,  with  a  useless  dereliction  from 
sound  policy,  it  authorized  the  employment  of  Indians. 

On  that  same  day  the  first  division  of  the  Brunswick 
troops  under  Riedesel  arrived  with  Bnrgoyne  at  Quebec,  and, 
with  the  regnnents  from  Ireland  and  others,  put  into  the  hands 
of  Carleton  an  army  of  nine  thousand  nine  hundred  andei^>-hty- 
four  elfcctive  men.  *' 

The  sinall-pox  seized  Thomas,  and  he  died  just  a  month  and 
a  day  after  taking  the  command  round  Quebec.     Sullivan,  ar- 
riving with  his  party  at  Sorel  on  the  fifth,  found  the  retreat 
m  safe  progress,  the  heavy  baggage  and  most  of  the  artillery 
already  removed  to  St.  John's  and  Chambly.     Assuming  the 
command,  he  ordered  all  who  were  on  the  retreat  to  turn  about 
and  follow  him,  and  the  cannon  to  be  brought  back.    "  I  assure 
you  and  the  congress,"  he  reported  through  Washing-ton  to 
congress  on  the  sixth,  « that  I  can  in  a  few  days  reduce  the 
army  to  order  and  put  a  new  face  to  our  affaire  here.    All  our 
operations  ought  to  be  down  the  river."     He  sent  a  detach- 
ment, under  a  subordinate  general,  with  one  fourth  of  his  whole 
force  to  Three  Rivers,  through  a  countrv  with  which  he  was 
unacquainted,  and  in  ignorance  of  the  strength  and  the  posi- 
tions of  the  enemy.    A  peasant  made  known  to  the  English 
their  approach.     Twenty-five  newly  arrived  transports,  laden 
with  troops,  had,  by  Carieton's  directions,  been  piloted  past 
Quebec  without  stopping;  and  they  arrived  at  Three  Elvers 
just  in  time  to  take  part  in  repelling  the  attack  which  was 
gallantly  begun  by  Wapie.    The  Americans  were  driven  back 
to  Sorel,  losing  more  than  two  hundred  men,  chiefly  as  prison- 
ers, saving  the  rest  only  by  Carieton's  want  of  alertness. 

The  remains  of  the  American  army  encamped  at  Sorel  did 
not  exceed  two  thousand  five  hundred  men;  about  a  thousand 


0  'V 


'iA 


II. ;  HI.  .XXIV. 

3nt.  They 
•ibutlons  of 

ly  of  Juno 
eyed  to  re- 
imnication 
o  make  up 
[laiiipshiro 
ition  from 
lis. 

Bnmswick 

lehec,  and, 

tlie  liands 

md  eiglity- 

nontli  and 
lUivan,  ar- 
lie  retreat 
e  artillery 
iniing  tlie 
urn  about 
"  I  assure 
ingion  to 
educe  tlie 
All  our 
a  detach- 
his  whole 
li  he  was 
the  posi- 
i  English 
rts,  laden 
Dted  past 
e  Rivers 
hieh  was 
ven  back 
IS  prisou- 
■ss. 

5orel  did 
thousand 


1776. 


THE  BRITISn   RECOVER  CANADA. 


381 


more  wore  at  other  stations,  but  most  of  them  under  inocula- 
tion. Sickness,  want  of  food,  defeat,  the  threefold  superioiity 
of  the  Biitish  in  numbers  and  their  incomparable  superiority 
in  appointments^,  made  resistance  impossible.  A  council  of 
field  officers  all  but  unanimously  advised  retreat ;  Araold, 
Antill,  and  llazcn,  who  were  not  present,  were  of  the  same 
mind.  On  the  fourteenth  the  fleet  with  the  British  forces  was 
coming  up  the  river  under  full  sail ;  when,  an  hour  or  a  little 
more  before  their  arrival,  Sullivan,  who  was  both  brave  and 
alert,  broke  up  his  camj),  taking  away  with  him  everything, 
even  to  a  spade.  The  guard  at  Berthior  retreated  by  land, 
leaving  nine  boats  behind. 

At  Chambly  all  the  boats  and  baggage  were  brought  over 
the  rapids,  except  three  heavy  pieces  of  cannon.  From  Mon- 
treal, Arnold,  with  the  knowledge  of  the  commissioners  of  con- 
gress, had  sent  off  merchandise  taken  from  the  inhabitants ; 
when  the  enemy  came  within  twelve  miles,  he  crossed  with 
three  hundred  men  to  La  Prairie.  All  that  was  left  of  the 
invading  army  met  on  the  seventeenth  at  St.  John's,  half  of 
them  being  sick,  almost  all  destitute  of  clothing,  and  having 
no  provisions  except  salt  pork  and  flour.  On  the  eighteenth 
the  emaciated,  half-naked  men,  languidly  pursued  by  a  column 
imder  Burgoyne,  escaped  to  Isle-Aux-Noix. 

On  the  day  on  which  Sulhvan  halted  at  Isl(>-aux-]^oix, 
Gates,  who  had  been  elected  a  major-general,  was  appointed  to 
take  command  of  the  forces  in  Canada.  Already  at  Albany 
the  question  arose,  whether  the  command  would  revert  to 
Schuyler  the  moment  the  army  should  be  found  south  of  the 
Canada  line. 

At  Isle-aux-Koix  the  men  fit  for  duty  remained  for  eight 
days,  till  the  invahds  could  be  taken  to  Crown  Point.  They 
made  the  voyage  in  leaky  boats  which  had  no  awnings, 
with  no  food  but  raw  pork  and  hard  bread  or  unbaked  flour. 
A  physician  who  was  an  eye-witness  said :  "  At  the  sight  of  so 
much  privation  and  distress,  I  wept  till  I  had  no  more  power  to 
weep."  Early  in  July  the  fragments  of  the  army  of  Canada 
reached  Crown  Point.  Everything  about  them  was  infected 
with  the  pestilence.  "  I  did  not  look  into  a  tent  or  a  hut,"  says 
Trumbull,  '•  in  which  I  did  not  find  either  a  dead  or  dying 


' 

1 

I 

i 

t  ■ 

i< 

i^ 

i'lf 

j 

1 

1 

i    ;■ 

I 

'! 


m 


*  j 

1 

i 
1 

i 

•j 

t 

i 

; 

!          5 

i 

Lj 

d 

3S2         AMEUICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ep.  mi.  ;  (■„.  ^xiy. 

man."  of  ..l.out  five  thousand  men,  lionsod  under  tents  or 
nulely  ])udt  «heds  or  huts  of  brnsli,  exposed  to  the  duiiip  air 
ot  the  ni-ht,  ftdl  half  were  invalidn;  more  tJiau  tlurty  new 
gravw  Avero  n.a.h)  every  day.  In  a  h'ttle  more  thau  two 
montlis  tlie  northern  army  lost  by  dest-rtion  and  death  more 
than  hve  tliousand  men. 

^     The  reduction  of  tlie  8outliern  coh>nies  was  to  Jiave  been 
hmslied  before  that  of  Canada. 

Martin,  the  governor  of   Nortli  Carolina,  had  repeatedly 
offered  to  raise  a  batti-hon  from  the  Scottish  Ili-ldanders  in 
that  colony,  and  declared  himself  sure  of  the  all.'giance  of  the 
regulators,  as  of  men  weary  of  insurrection  and  scrupulous 
about  their  oath^      Again  and  again  he  importuned  to  be  re- 
stored to  his  old  rank  in  the  army  as  lieutenant-colonel,  prom- 
ising the  greatest  consequences  from  such  an  appointment 
He  could  not  conceal  that  "the  frenzy"  had  taken  possession 
of  all  classes  of  men  around  him;  yet  he  promised  the  min- 
istry that  wi-h  ten  thousand  stand  of  arms,  to  be  sent  imme- 
diately from  England,  with  artilleiy,  ammunition,  money,  some 
purs  of  colors,  a  military  commission  for  himself,  and  the  aid 
of  two  regmieuts,  he  would  force  a  connection  with  the  interior 
and  raise  not  the  Highlande-s  alone,  but  the  peoj^le  of  the  upper 
count'y  m  such  overwhelming  numbers  as  to  restore  order 
m  the  two  Carolinas,  "hold  Virginia  in  awe,"  and  recover 
eveiy  colony  south  of  Pennsylvania.     In  England  his  advice 
was  asrened  to,  except  that  rank  in  the  army  was  refused  him 
IVIaking  himself   busy  with   the  affairs   of  his  neighliors' 
Uavtm  wrote  to  the  British  ministry  in  midsummer  1775  ' 
"The   people   of   South  Carolina   forget   entirelv  their  own 
M-oakness  and  are  blustering  treason;  while  Charleston,  that 
is  the  hea<l  and  heart  of  their   boasted  province,   nibrht  bo 
dcstnned  by  a  sin-le   frigatr.      In   charity  to   them   imd  in 
dnf-  .    my  kbig  and  eomitry,  I  give  it  as  my  sincere  opinion 
tuat  t._j  rod  of  correction  cannot  be  spared."     A  few  weeks 
later,  Lord  William  Campbell  chimed  in  with  him,  reckoning 
up  the  many  deadly  perils  by  whic      they  were  environed : 
the  Indians;"  "  the  disaffected  back-conntrv  people;"  their 
own  social  condition  "whore  their  sla- xs  we're  five  to  one;" 
and  the  power  of  Britain  from  the  sea. 


'I- ;  <'n.  XXI7. 

■r  tents  or 
3  (laaij)  air 
■liii'ty  new 
tliaii  two 
L'iith  more 

luvo  been 

vpoatedly 
liiiulers  in 
ICO  of  the 
t'ni])ul<)U8 

to  be  re- 
lel,  proiii- 
oiiitiiiont. 
")(»s.scssion 
the  niin- 
nt  imine- 
!iey,  some 
d  tlie  aid 
e  interior 
lie  upper 
)re  order 
I  recover 
is  advice 
ised  liiin. 
2ig]i])ors, 
T  1775  : 
eir  own 
ion,  that 
light  bo 

a»ul  in 
opinion 
w  weeks 
'ckoning 
rironed : 
;"  their 
3  one;" 


1776.  NOUTII  CAROTJXA  DECLARES  F(JR  INI)EPEXF)EXrE.  383 

Alhired  by  tliese  assnrances,  an  expedition  agaiii^t  tlie  Rou+b- 
cm  colonies  WIS  ordered,  in  October  177.-),  by  the  king  hiniHolf, 
wlioso  zeal  and  confidence  were  inflamed  by  letters  which  were 
constantly  arriving.  In  the  month  in  whitli  the  king  took  his 
resolution,  Campbell,  the  governor  of  South  Carolina,  wrote  in 
an  ofHeial  report :  "  Let  it  not  be  entirely  forgot  that  the  kincr 
has  dominions  in  this  part  of  America.  Wliat  defence  can  they 
make  ?  Three  regiments,  a  proper  di^tachment  of  artillery, 
with  a  couple  of  good  frigates,  some  small  craft,  and  a  bomb- 
ketch,  would  do  the  whole  business  here,  and  go  a  great  way  to 
reduce  CJeorgia  and  North  Carolina  to  a  sense  of  their  duty. 
Charleston  is  the  fountain-head  from  wiience  all  violence  flows; 
stop  that,  and  the  rebellion  in  this  p.art  of  the  continent  will 
soon  be  at  an  end." 

In  conformity  to  the  rc^ports  of  Martin  and  Campbell,  a 
force  erpial  to  seven  regiments  was  ordered  to  l>e  in  readiness 
to  sail  from  Cork  early  in  Di'cember.  "I  am  not  apprised 
wliere  they  are  going,"  thus  JJarrington,  the  secretary  at  war, 
expostulated  with  Dartmouth ;  "  but,  if  there  should  be  an  idea 
of  such  a  force  marching  up  the  country,  I  hope  it  will  not  be 
entertained.  Allow  me  once  more  to  remind  you  of  the  ne- 
cessity there  is  m  all  military  matters  nf»t  to  stir  a  step  without 
full  consultation  of  able  military  men,  after  giving  them  the 
most  perfect  knowledge  of  the  whole  matter  under  considera- 
tion, with  all  its  circumstances."  The  warning  had  no  influ- 
ence, for  the  king  would  not  consult  those  who  were  likely  to 
disagree  with  him.  The  earl  of  Cornwallis,  then  in  England, 
was  to  command  the  land  forces  of  the  expedition  while  on  the 
way.  From  the  army  of  Howe,  Clinton,  who  was  of  the  great 
family  of  the  duke  of  Newcastle,  was  detached  to  reap  the  honor 
of  restoring  the  two  Carolinas  to  their  allegiance. 

Early  in  January  1770  the  American  "coinmander-in-cliief 
ascertained  that  Clinton  was  about  to  embark  from  Boston  on 
a  southern  expedition.  New  York  nnght  be  its  object.  Lee, 
M-hose  claim  to  "the  character  of  a  military  genius  and  t^3 
ofticer  of  experience"  had  not  yet  been  disallowed,  desired  a 
separate  command  in  New  York.  After  consulting  John  Ad- 
ams, who  was  then  with  the  provincial  convention  at"\Y::er- 
town,  and  who  pronounced  the  plan  to  be  practicable,  expe- 


!  ill 


i 


i    !■ 


ji 


I  iS 


i  !  i 


Si'll 


381         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.     ' , .  „,. ,  en.  xxiv. 

dicnt  and  clearly  authorized,  "Wasliinirton,  uuiiifonned  of  the 
measures  already  adopted,  gave  his  consent;  yet  ciiarging  Lee 
to  ''  keei)  always  in  view  the  declared  intention  of  congress  " 
and  to  eonmiunicate  with  the  IVew  York  coniniittoe  of  safety, 
Avhose  co-operation  he  himself  solicited. 

Lee,  who  had  ne\-er  commanded  so  much  as  one  regiment 
before  he  entered  the  American  army,  on  his  way  to  Kew 
York  persuaded  the  governor  and  council  of  Connecticut  to 
place  two  regiments  under  him.      Straightway  usurpin-  au- 
thority, he  appointed  Isaac  Sears  assistant  adjutant-general  with 
the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.     The  tidings  that  Lee,  with 
nearly  hf  teen  hundred  men  of  Connecticut,  was  advancing  upon 
JNew  lork  without  notice  to  its  committee  or  its  inhabitants 
seemed  to  imply  a  menace.     AVhen  its  committee  of  safety 
wrote  to  request  that  the  trooi,s  of  Connecticut  might  not  pass 
the  border  till  the  purpose  of  their  coming  should  be  explained 
Lee  made  a  jest  of  the  letter.     Eoth  parties  appealed  to  the 
general  conf^ress. 

On  the  fourth,  Lee  entered  the  city  of  I^ew  York,  just  two 
hours  after  Clinton,  attended  by  only  two  companies  of  infan- 
try and  a  few  Highlanders,  anchored  in  its  harbor.  Troops 
from  the  Jerseys  at  the  same  time  marched  into  town.  A 
general  consternation  enr^ned;  and,  in  spite  of  the  dangers  and 
sorrows  attending  a  Hight  in  winter,  ail  the  wagons  that  could 
be  found  were  employed  in  removing  women  and  children 
from  the  city,  which  for  seven  years  to  come  was  to  know  no 
peace.  The  opulent  knew  not  where  to  find  habitations;  the 
poor,  thrown  upon  the  cold  hands  of  exhausted  charity  in  the 
interior  towns,  sulfered  from  complicated  wants. 

Under  the  harmonizing  inlkience  of  tlie  continental  com- 
mittee, Lee  and  the  Xew  York  conunittee  iield  friendly  con- 
ferences. Men  uid  boys  of  all  ages  toiled  with  zeal  t^  raise 
wm-ks  of  defence.  To  control  the  Sound,  a  fortification  was 
raised  at  Kellgate ;  on  a  height  west  of  Trinity  church,  a 
battery  was  erected  fronting  the  Koith  river;  that  part  of  the 
old  fort  which  faced  ]^>r()a(hvay  wa.s  torn  d.,\vn;  Lee  and  Lord 
Stirhng,  crossing  to  Long  Island,  marked  „nt  the  groimd  for 
an  intrenched  camp,  extending  from  thu  AVallabout  to  Go- 
wanua  bay;   the  connection  between  Long  Island  and  Kew 


!    ! 


:     i 


[I. ;  en.  XXIV. 

[led  of  tlie 

arging  Lee 

congress," 

of  safety, 

B  regiment 
y  to  New 
lecticut  to 
irping  au- 
(neral  with 
Lee,  with 
icing  upon 
ihabitants, 
of  safety 
it  not  pass 
exjjlained, 
ilcd  to  the 

:,  just  two 

of  infan- 

.     Troops 

town.     A 

iigers  and 

hat  could 

children 

know  no 

ions;  the 

ity  in  the 

ilal  com- 
udly  con- 
1  to  raise 
ition  w;is 
hurcli,  a 
rt  of  the 
II id  Lord 
ound  for 
;  to  Go- 
.nd  New 


1776.  NORTH  CAROLINA  DECLARES  FOR  INDEPENDENCE.  385 

York  was  secured  by  a  battery  of  forty  guns  at  the  foot  of 
Wall  street  and  another  of  twenty  guns  a  little  farther  to  the 
south.  The  ships-of-war  without  firing  a  gun  removed  to  the 
bay,  and  Lee  professed  to  repudiate  a  reconciliation  with  Britain 
mdess  "the  whole  ministry  should  be  condignly  punished,  and 
the  king  beheaded  or  dethroned." 

Clinton,  who  had  but  touched  at  New  York,  pledged  his 
honor  that  for  the  present  no  more  British  troops  were  com- 
ing there,  and  on  the  eleventh  "  with  his  men  and  ships  left 
the  river."     Tlie  seeming  success  of  Lee  drew  toward  him  pub- 
he  confidence.     John  Adams,  who  had  counselled  his  expedi- 
tion to  New  York,  wrote  to  him  complacently  "  that  a  luckier 
or  a  happier  one  had  never  been  projected ; "  and  added  :  "  We 
want  you  at  Ne^v  York ;  we  want  you  at  Cambridge ;  we  want 
you  in  Virginia;  but  Canada  seems  of  more  hnportance,  and 
therefore  you  are  sent  tlierc.     I  wish  you  tlie  laurels  of  Wolfe 
and  Montgomery  with  a  liappier  fate."     "When  I  leave  tliis 
place,"  so  Lee  wrote  to  Washington,  the  "provincial  cono-ress 
and  mhabitants  will  relapse  into  their  hysterics;  the  men-of- 
war  will  return  to  tlieir  wharfs,  and  the  first  regiments  from 
England  will  take  quiet  possession  of  the  town."     On  the  first 
of  Marcli,  on  the  motion  of  Edward  Rutledge,  congress,  after 
a  warm  contest,  revoked  its  order  to  send  Lee  to  C?uiada,  and 
invested  him  with  the  command  of  the  continental  forces  south 
of  the  Potomac.     "  As  a  Virginian,  I  rejoice  at  tlio  chan<-e  " 
wrote  Washington,  who  had,  however,  already  discovered  tliat 
the  oflicer  so  much  courted  was  both  "  violent  and  fickle  "    On 
the  seventh  he  left  New  York,  but  not  before  a  com])leto  dis- 
play of  his  turbulent  temper.    He  arrested  men  at  discretion. 
He  deputed  power  to  Sears  to  offer  a  test  oath  to  a  registered 
numl)er  of  suspected  peraons,  and,  if  they  refused  it,  to  send 
them  to^Conuocticut  as  irreclaimable  eneiiiies.     To  the  rebuke 
of  the  New  York  convention  he  answered  :  "  When  the  enemy 
is  at  our  door,  forms  must  be  dispensed  witli ;  "  and,  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure,  lie  gave  Ward  of  Connecticut  the  sweeping 
order  '^^to  secure  the  whole  body  of  professed  tories  on  Long 
Island."    The  arliitrary  orders  were  resented  by  tlio  New  York 
delegates  as  "  a  high  encroachment  upon  .    .«  rights  of  the  rej)- 
resentatives  of  a  free  people,"  and  were  revei-sed  l^y  congress. 
VOL.  IV. — 25 


t: 


386 


AMERICA  AKMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ep.  in.;  en.  xxiv. 


After  tlie  tuniiiiiation  of  tiio  seven  years'  war  nearly  every- 
one of  the  lligliland  regiment,  alike  soldiers  and  offieers, 
settled  on  grants  of  land  in  America.  IVfany  of  the  inhabitants 
of  northwestern  Scotland,  especially  of  the  clans  of  Macdonald 
and  Macleod,  listened  to  overtures  from  those  who  had  ob- 
tained concessions  of  vast  domains  and  migrated  to  middle 
Carolina.  Those  who  went  iirst  reported  favorably  of  the 
sunny  clime,  where  every  man  might  have  land  of  his  own  ; 
and  from  the  isles  of  llasay  and  Skye  whole  neighborhoods 
followed,  sweetening  their  change  of  abode  by  carrying  ^v  ith 
them  their  costume  and  opinions,  their  Celtic  language  and 


songs. 


Distinguished  above  all  was  Allan  Macdonald  of  Kings- 
borough,  and  his  wife  Flora  Macdonald  whojn  174G  had  res- 
cued Prince  Charles  Edward  from  his  pursuers.  Tliey  re- 
moved to  North  Carolina  in  ITTl,  and  made  their  new  home 
in  the  west  of  Cumberland  county.  She  was  now  about  fifty- 
five,  mother  of  many  children,  of  middle  stature,  soft  features, 
"uncommonly  mild  and  gentle  manners  and  elegant  presence." 
Her  husband  was  aged,  but  still  with  hair  jet  black,  of  a  stately 
figure,  and  a  countenance  that  expressed  intelligence  and  stead- 
fastness. On  the  tliird  of  July  1775,  he  came  down  to  Fort 
Johnston  and  concerted  with  Martin  how  to  raise  a  battalion 
of  "  the  good  and  faithful  Highlanders." 

Clinton  on  his  way  south  called  on  Lord  Dunmore  in  "Vir- 
ginia, and  remaiiK'd  there  ten  days.  When  Lord  Dunmore 
learned  from  him  that  Cape  Fear  river  was  the  place  appointed 
for  the  meeting  of  the  seven  regiments  from  Ireland,  he  broke 
out  into  angry  complaints  that  no  heed  had  been  paid  to  his 
representations,  his  sufferings,  and  his  efforts ;  that  Virginia, 
"the  first  on  the  continent  for  riches,  power,  and  extent,"  was 
neglected,  and  the  preference  given  to  "a  poor,  ine'^niticant 
colony,"  where  there  were  no  pilots,  nor  a  harbor  that  could 
admit  half  the  fieet,  and  where  the  ai-my,  should  it  land,  must 
wade  for  many  miles  through  a  sandy  i)ine  barren  before  it 
could  reach  the  inhabited  part  of  the  comitry. 

Martin,  who  was  daily  expecting  the  British  army,  made 
haste  to  prepare  a  i)roclanuition  which  was  to  beat  down  all 
opposition,     "  Ills  unwearied,  i)er3cvering  agent,"  Alexander 


II. ;  CTT.  xxrv. 

L'arly  every 
ul  officers, 
iiiluil)itant8 
Macdonald 
10  had  ob- 
to  middle 
bly  of  the 
f  liis  own  ; 
^hborlioods 
rjing  A\  ith 
guage  and 

of  Kings- 
C)  had  res- 

Tliey  re- 
new home 
ihout  fifty- 
ft  features, 
presence." 
)f  a  stately 
and  stead- 
;vn  to  Fort 
I  battalion 

"»rc  in  Yir- 

Dnnmore 

appointed 

I,  he  broke 

)aid  to  his 

Virginia, 

tent,"  was 

E'^niticant 

that  could 

and,  must 

before  it 

my,  made 

down  all 

Alexander 


1776.  NOPwTir  CAROLINA  DECLARES  FOR  INDEPEXDEXCE.  387 

Maclean,  brought  written  assurances  from  the  principal  per- 
sons to  whom  he  had  been  directed  to  apply,  that  between  two 
and  thi-ee  tliousand  men,  of  whom  about  half  were  well  armed, 
would  take  the  field  at  the  governor's  summons.  Under  this 
encouragement  a  commission  was  made  out  on  the  tenth  of 
Jaimary  1776,  authorizing  Allan  Macdonald  of  Kingsborough, 
with  eight  other  Scots  of  Cumberland  and  Anson,  and  seven- 
teen persons  who  resided  in  a  belt  of  counties  in  middle  Caro- 
lina and  in  Rowan,  to  raise  and  array  and,  by  the  fifteenth  of 
February,  march  all  the  king's  loyal  subjects  in  a  body  to 
Bnmswick,  on  (^ape  Fear  river,  opposite  to  Wilmington.  Don- 
ald Macdonald,  then  in  his  sixty-fifth  year,  was  to  command 
the  anny ;  next  him  in  rank  came  Donald  Macleod. 

A  meeting  of  the  newly  commissioned  officers  was  sum- 
moned for  the  fifth  of  February  at  Cross  creek,  or,  as  it  is 
now  called,  Fayetteville.  At  the  appointed  time  all  the  Scots 
appeared,  and  four  only  of  the  rest.  The  trustworthy  Scots, 
who  promised  no  more  than  seven  hundred  men,  advised  to 
await  the  arrival  of  the  British  troops;  the  other  rojalists, 
boasting  tliat  they  could  array  five  thousand  of  whom  five  hun- 
dred they  said  were  already  imbodied,  prevailed  in  their  de- 
mand for  an  immediate  risinir. 

Collecting  tlie  Highlanders  and  remnants  of  the  old  regu- 
lators, Donald  JMacdon^ld,  on  the  eighteenth,  began  his  march, 
and  at  evening  encamped  on  the  Cape  Fear  river,  four  miles 
below  Fayetteville.  On  that  same  day  Moore,  who  at  the  first 
menace  of  danger  took  the  field  at  the  head  of  his  regiment 
and  then  lay  in  an  intrenched  camp  at  Rockfisli,  was'joined 
by  Lillington  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  minute-men'  from 
Wihnington,  by  Kenon  witli  two  hundred  of  the  Duplin 
militia,  and  by  Ashe  witli  about  a  hundred  volunteer  rangers; 
so  that  his  number  was  increased  to  eleven  hundred. 

On  the  nineteenth,  jVEacdonald  sent  Martin's  proclamation 
into  the  American  camp,  calling  on  Moore  and  his  troops 
to  join  the  king's  standard,  or  to  l)e  considered  as  enemies. 
INEoore,  in  his  instant  reply,  besought  Macdonald  not  to  array 
the  deluded  peoi)lo  under  his  command  against  men  who  were 
resolved  to  hazard  everything  in  defence  of  tlie  liberties  of 
mankind.    Macdonald  promptly  rejoined :  ''  As  a  soldier  iu  his 


"1 
Is 

f 

" 

t 


i^'Bi 


H    ii 


I  il 


i    . 


1    !  . 


388         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.    ki<.  hi.  ;  cn.  xxiv. 


'■'■J 


(         1, 


:  hill 


I  I   i        n 


majesty's  service,  it  is  my  duty  to  conquer,  if  I  cannot  reclaim, 
all  those  who  may  be  hardy  eiion<j;h  to  take  np  anus  against 
the  best  of  masters;"  and  he  i)arade(l  his  party  with  a  view  to 
assail  Moore  in  the  coming  night.  But  the  camp  at  Roclcush 
was  too  strong  to  be  attempted ;  and,  at  the  bare  suspicion  of 
siieh  a  project,  two  companies  of  Cotton's  loyalist  corps  ran  off 
with  their  arms. 

Jvnowing  that  Caswell,  at  the  head  of  the  minute-men  of 
Newbern  and  others  to  the  number  of  six  or  eight  hundred 
were  inarching  through  Duplin  county  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Moore,  Maedonald  became  aware  of  his  extreme  dan«^er. 
Cut  off  from  the  direct  road  along  the  Cape  Fear  river   he 
resolved,  by  celerity  of  movemeT\t  and  crossing  streams  at  un- 
expected places,  to  disengage  himself  from  the  larger  force  at 
Kockfish,  and  encounter  the  party  with  Caswell  alone.     Before 
moving,  he  urged  his  men  to  fidelity,  expressed  bitter  scorn  of 
"  the  base  cravens  who  had  deserted  the  night  before,"  and 
contimied :  "  If  any  among  you  is  so  faint-hearted  as  not  to 
serve  with  the  resolution  of  con(piering  or  dying,  this  is  the 
time  for  such  to  declare   themselves."     The  speech  was  an- 
swered by  a  general  huzza  for  the  king;  but  from  Cotton's 
corps  about  twenty  men  laid  down  their  arms.    The  corps  then 
proceeded  to  Fayettcville,  crossed  the  Cape   Fear  by  night, 
sunk  their  boats,  and  sent  a  ])arty  fifteen  miles  in  advance 
to  secure  the  bridge  over  South  river.     This  the  main  l)od7 
passed  on  the  tv/enty-first,  and  took  the  direct  route  to  Wil- 
mington.    On  the  same  day  Moore  detached  Lillington  and 
Ashe  to  re-enforce  Caswell,  or,  if  that  could  not  be  effected,  to 
occu]iy  IVFoore's  (]reek  bridge. 

On  the  following  day  the  Scots  and  regulators  drew  near 
to  Caswell,  who  i)erceived  their  purpose,  and,  the  more  effectu- 
ally to  intercept  their  march,  changed  his  own  course.  On 
the  twenty-third  they  thought  to  overtake  him,  and  Avere 
arrayed  in  the  order  of  battle,  eiglity  able-bodied  llighland- 
ers,  armed  with  broadswords,  forming  the  centre  of  the  army, 
C;iswell  was  already  posted  at  Corbett's  Ferry,  and  could  not 
be  reached  for  want  of  boats;  but,  at  a  i)oint  six  miles  higher 
lip  the  Black  river,  a  negro  succeedetl  in  raising  a  bi-oad,  shal- 
low boat  that  had  been  sunk ;  and  while  j\Iaclean  and  Fraser, 


I. ;  cn.  XXIV. 

ot  reclaim, 
ins  against 
1  a  viow  to 
t  Roclvusli 
ispicion  of 
rps  ran  oir 

itc-men  of 
;  hundred, 
I  junction 
10  danger, 
riv-cr,  lie 
mis  at  im- 
ir  force  at 
.    Before 
r  scorn  of 
fore,"  and 
as  not  to 
[lis  is  the 
1  was  an- 
.  Cotton's 
jorps  tlieu 
by  nig] it, 
L  advance 
lain  l)odj 
0  to  Wii- 
gton  and 
lected,  to 

[few  near 
e  elTeetu- 
rse.  On 
md  were 
lighland- 
lie  ami}', 
ould  not 
js  higher 
)a(l,  shal- 
d  Fraser, 


177G.  NORTH  CAROLINA  DECLARES  FOR  INDEPENDENCE.  389 

with  a  few  men,  a  drum,  and  a  pipe,  were  left  to  amuse  Cas- 
well, the  main  body  of  the  loyalists  crossed  Black  river  near 
what  is  now  Newkirk  Bridsre. 

On  the  twenty-lifth  Lillington  took  post  with  his  small 
party  on  the  east  side  of  the  bridge  over  Moore's  Creek.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-sixth  Caswell  reached  its  west 
side,  and,  raising  a  small  breastwork  and  destroying  a  part  of 
the  ])ridge,  awaited  the  enemy,  who  on  that  day  advanced 
within  SIX  miles  of  him.  A  messenger  from  the  loyalists,  sent 
to  his  camp  under  the  pretext  of  summoning  him  to  return  to 
his  allegiance,  brought  back  word  that  he  had  halted  upon  the 
same  side  of  the  river  with  themselves,  and  could  be  attacked 
with  advantage  ;  l^ut  the  Carolina  commander  had  no  sooner 
misled  his  enemy  than,  ligliting  up  iires  and  leaving  them 
burning,  he  crossed  the  creek,  took  oil  the  planks  from  the 
bridge,  and  placed  his  men  behind  such  slight  intrenchraents 
as  the  night  permitted  to  be  thrown  up. 

The    loyalists,   expecting    an    easy   victory,   unanimously 
agreed  that  his  camp  should  be  assaulted.     His  force  at  that 
time  amounted  to  a  thousand  men,  consisting  of  the  Newbem 
minute-men,  of  militia  from   Craven,  Johnson,  Dobbs,  and 
Wake  counties,  and  the  detachment  under  Lillington.     At  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty  -  seventh  the  army  of 
Macdonald  began  their  march ;  but  it  was  within  an  hour  of 
daylight  l)efore  they  reached  the  western  baidc  of  the  creek, 
and  found  that  Caswell  and  his  force  had  taken  post  on  the 
opposite  side.     The  Scots  were  now  within  less  than  twenty 
miles  of  Wilmington ;   orders  were  directly  given  to  reduce 
the  columns,  and  to  form  the  line  of  battle  within  the  verge 
of  the  wood;  the  rallying  cry  was,  "King  George  and  broad- 
swords!" the  signal  for  the  attack,  three  cheers,  the  drum  to 
beat  and  the  ]iipes  to  play.     It  was  still  dark ;  Macleod,  who 
led  the  van  of  about  forty,  was  challenged  at  the  bridge  by 
the  Carolina  sentinels.     Of  the  bridge  nothing  had  been  left 
but  the  two  logs,  which  had  served  as  sleepers.     Macleod  and 
John  Campl)ell  rushed  forward  and  succeeded  in  getting  over  • 
Jlighlanders  followed  with  broadswords.     Macleod,  who  was 
greatly  esteemed,  was  mortally  wounded ;  he  was  seen  to  rise 
repeatedly  from  the  ground,  encouraging  his  men  to  come  on, 


t  I 

•I'M 


f ;  ]' 

il 

f 

M.' 

<   'si 


!|  I 


890         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxiv. 

till  ho  received  many  balls.  Campbell  liicewiso  fell.  In  a  very 
few  minutes  the  assailants  fled  in  irretrievable  despair.  The 
Americans  had  but  three  wounded,  one  only  mortally ;  of  their 
Disponents,  more  than  thirty  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded, 
most  of  them  on  the  bridge,  from  which  they  fell  into  the  deep, 
muddy  creek. 

The  fugitives  could  never  be  rallied :  during  the  Tollowing 
day  Macdouald  their  general,  and  others  of  tlie  chief  meu^ 
were  taken  prisoners ;  among  tJie  rest,  Macdonald  of  Kings- 
borough  and  one  of  his  sons,  who  were  at  first  cc  fined  In 
Halifax  jail,  and  afterward  transferred  to  Reading  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Eight  or  nine  huaJred  common  soldiers  were  taken, 
disarmed,  and  dismissed.  Thirteen  wagons,  with  complete  sets 
of  horses,  about  fifteen  hundred  rifles  in  excellent  condition, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  guns,  one  hundred  and  fifty  swords' 
two  medicine-chests  jus+  received  from  England,  and  a  box 
of  guineas  and  other  gold  coin,  fell  to  the  victors. 

As  the  tidings  of  danger  to  the  public  liberty  spread 
through  the  colony  the  patriots  took  up  arms  in  untold  num- 
bers, rumored  to  exceed  nine  thousand.  Moore,  under  orders 
from  the  council,  disarmed  the  Highlanders  and  regulators  of 
the  back  country,  and  imprisoned  the  ringleaders.  The  men- 
aced invasion  under  Clinton  caused  no  terror.  Almost  every 
man  was  ready  to  turn  out  at  an  hour's  warning.  North  Caro- 
lina had  men  enough  of  her  own  to  crush  domestic  insurrec- 
tions and  repel  enemies  from  abroad ;  and,  as  they  marched  in 
triumph  through  their  piny  forests,  they  were  persuaded  that 
in  their  own  groves  they  could  win  an  easy  victory  over  Brit- 
ish regulars.  The  terrors  of  a  fate  like  that  of  Noi-folk  could 
not  dismay  the  patriots  of  "Wilmington. 

North  Carolina,  proud  of  its  victory  over  domestic  ene- 
mies, and  roused  to  defiance  by  the  arrival  of  Clinton  in 
their  great  river,  met  i-i  congress  at  Halifax  on  the  fourth  of 
April ;  on  the  eighth  appointed  a  select  committee,  of  which 
Harnett  was  the  head,  to  consider  the  usurpations  and  violences 
of  the  Eritisli  parliament  and  king ;  and  on  the  twelfth,  after 
listening  to  its  report,  unanimously  "cmpov/ered  their  dele- 
gates in  the  continental  congress  to  concur  with  the  delegates 
of  the  other  colonies  in  declaring  independency  and  forming 


.J         1  : 
f)  (if         !  ! 


I. ;  en.  xxiY. 

In  a  very 
)air.  The 
' ;  of  their 
wounded, 

the  dee]), 

rollowliiir 
liief  men, 
of  Kings- 
fined  in 
I  Pennsyl- 
jre  taken, 
iplote  sets 
sondition, 
}'■  swords, 
ud  a  box 

ty  spread 
:old  num- 
ier  orders 
Lilators  of 
rhe  nien- 
Dst  every 
rth  Caro- 
insurrec- 
rclied  in 
ded  that 
ver  Brit- 
)lk  could 

stic  ene- 
uiton  in 
'ourtli  of 
>f  which 
'iolcnces 
'th,  after 
eir  dele- 
lelegates 


tur 


uimg 


1776.  NORTH  OAROLIMA  DECLARES  Fv  xi  INDEPEXDEXCE.  3<)1 

foreign  alhances."  At  the  same  time,  they  reserved  to  their 
colony  the  sole  right  of  forming  its  own  constitution  and  laws. 
The  people  of  North  Carolina  were  the  first  in  America  to 
vote  an  explicit  sanction  to  independence. 

The  border  colony  on  the  south  had  shown  equal  decision. 
So  early  as  July  1775,  Sir  James  Wright,  the  able  governor  of 
Georgia,  had  frankly  written  home  :  "  God  grant  conciliatory 
measures  may  take  place  ;  there  is  not  an  hour  to  be  lost ;  the 
state  of  affairs  will  not  admit  of  the  least  delay."  The  people 
of  Georgia  met  in  congress ;  a  council  of  safety  maintained  an 
executive  supervision  ;  local  affairs  were  left  to  parochial  com- 
mittees ;  but  the  crown  officers  were  not  molested.  The  mi- 
litia officers  were  compelled  to  sign  the  association,  and  a  ship 
which  arrived  witli  two  hundred  and  four  slaves  was  forced  to 
go  away  without  lauding  them.  In  September  two  hundred 
and  fifty  barrels  of  powder  were  taken  by  the  "  liberty  "  peo- 
ple from  a  vessel  at  Tybee. 

"Twelve  months  ago,"  said  the  people  of  Georgia  in  1776, 
"  we  were  declared  rebels,  and  yet  we  meet  with  no  opposi- 
tion ;  Britain  may  destroy  our  towns,  but  we  can  retire  to  the 
back  country  and  tire  her  out."  On  the  appearance  of  a  small 
squadron  in  the  Savannah,  Joseph  Habersham,  on  the  eighteenth 
of  January,  with  a  party  of  volunteers,  confined  Sir  James 
Wright  under  a  guard  in  his  own  house.  The  other  croAvn 
officers  either  fled  or  were  seized. 

The  provincial  congress,  which  assembled  in  Savannah  on 
the  second  of  February,  elected  Archibald  Bulloch,  John 
Houstoun,  Lyman  Hall,  Button  Gwinnet,  and  George  Walton 
their  delegates  to  the  continental  congress ;  and,  being  so  re- 
mote from  the  seat  of  congresp^  they  declined  to  give  them  any 
other  instruction  than  this :  "  Keep  in  view  the  general  utility, 
remembering  that  the  great  and  righteous  cause  in  which  we 
are  engaged  is  not  provincial  but  contineiital ;  and  concur  in  all 
measures  calculated  for  the  common  good."  In  this  way  the 
delegates  of  Georgia  were  left  free  to  join  in  declaring  inde- 
pendence whenever  it  should  be  the  choice  of  the  continental 
congress. 

A  few  days  after  this  instruction  was  adopted,  the  royal 
governor,  taking  with  him  the  great  seal  of  the  province. 


ii'i 


m 


I'! 


! 


;tf    ■  .' 


'.,•! 


392         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    kp  hi.;  on.  xxiv. 

escaped  by  iiiglit  to  Bonaventure,  rowed  tlirougli  Tybee  creek 
to  the  Scarborough  inau-of-war,  and  reported  "(Georgia  to  be 
totally  under  the  intlnence  of  the  Carolina  people ;  nothing  but 
force  could  pave  the  way  for  the  commissioners."     His  flight 
imposed  upon  the  congress  of  Georgia  the  necessity  of  framing 
a  constitution,  which,  on  the  fifteenth  of  April   1770,  was 
accepted  as  « the  groundwork  of  a  more  stable  and  formal  gov- 
ernment."    Archibald  Eulloch  was  elected  its  first  president, 
and  on  the  first  day  of  May  was  charged  by  the  council  of 
safety  to  enforce  all  the  resolutions  of  congress,  without  regard 
to  any  individual  or  set  of  men;  "for,"  they  reasoned,  "no 
government  can  be  said  to  be  established  while  any  part  of  the 
community  refuses  submission  to  its  authority."    Accepting, 
the  supreme  command  of  the  colony,  Bulloch  answered  :  "  The 
appointment  is  derived  from  the  free  and  uncorrupt  suffrages 
of  my  fellow-citizens.     I  shall  enforce  and  carry  into  execution 
every  resolve  and  law  of"  the  "  congress"  of  Georo-ia 


I. ;  on.  XXIV. 

yhec  creek 
rgia  to  be 
Dtldng  but 
His  iligbt 
>f  framing 
1770,  was 
)rmal  gov- 
president, 
3ouncil  of 
)ut  regard 
mod,  "no 
art  of  the 
Accepting 
id:  "The 
suffrages 
execution 
a. 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE  OB'  FORT  MOULTllIE. 


393 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

HOW   SOUTH   CAKOLINA   ADVANCED  TO  INDEPENDENCE. 

Ieukuauy-July  177G. 

The  American  congress  needed  an  impulse  from  the  reso- 
lute spirit  of  some  government  springing  wholly  from  the 
people.     On  the  eighth  of  Febniary  1776,  tlie  convention  of 
South  Carolina,  by  Drayton  their  president,  presented  their 
thanks  to  John  Eutledge  and  Henry  Middleton  for  their  ser- 
vices in  the  American  congress,  which  had  made  its  appeal  to 
the  King  of  kings,  established  a  navy,  treasury,  and  general 
post-office,  exercised  control  over  conunerce,  and  granted  to 
colonies  permission  to  create  civil  institutions,  independent  of 
the  regal  authority.     The  next  day  arrived  Gadsden,  the  high- 
est officer  in  the  army  of  the  province,  and  he  in  like  manner 
received  the  welcome  of  public  gratitude.     In  return,  he  pre- 
sented the  standard  which  was  to  be  used  by  the  American 
navy,  representing  in  a  yellow  field  a  rattlesnake  of  thirteen 
full-grown    rattles   coiled   to  strike,  with   the   motto:   don't 
TREAD  ON  ME.     "When,  on  the  tenth,  the  re])ort  on  refonning 
the  provincial  government  was  considered  and  many  hesitated, 
Gadsden  spoke  out  for  the  absolute  inde[)endence  of  America. 
The  majority  had  thus  far  refused  to  contemplate  the  end 
toward  which  they  were  irresistibly  impelled.     One  member 
avowed  his  willingness  to  ride  post  by  day  and  night  to  Phila- 
delphia, in  order  to  assist  in  reuniting  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies;  the  elder  Laurens  "bore  his  ^-'it''mony  against  the 
principles  of  'Conmion  Sense;'"  but  the  ".riminal  laws  could 
not  be  enforced  for  M'ant  of  ofticers ;  ])ublic  and  private  affairs 
were  running  into  confusion ;  the  imminent  danger  of  invasion 


..(I-  y 


i 

ill 


¥ 


11 


'  m  I 


I    f'l 


fi    ( 


I'l    ' 


',  1 


!        I 


394         AMERICA  ARMb  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxv. 

was  proved  hy  inturcopted  letters ;  so  tliat  necessity  compelled 
the  adoption  of  some  adequate  system  of  ride. 

While  a  committee  of  eleven  was  preparing  the  oro-anic 
law  Gadsden,  on  the  thirteenth,  l)egan  to  act  a.  senior  oliicer 
ot  the  army.  Companies  of  militia  were  called  down  to 
tliarleston,  and  the  military  forces  augmented  by  two  regi- 
ments of  riflemen.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  Sullivan's 
Island  was  a  wdderness,  thickly  covered  with  myrtle,  live-oak 
and  palmettos ;  there,  on  the  second  of  March,  William  Moul- 
trie M-as  ordered  to  complete  a  fort  large  enough  to  hold  a 
thousand  men. 

Within  five  days  after  the  convention  received  the  act  of 
parliament  of  the  preceding  December  which  authorized  the 
capture  of  American  vessels  and  propertj,  they  gave  up  the 
hope  of  reconcihation  ;  and,  on  the  twenty-siyt'  -f  March  1770 
asserting  ''  the  good  of  the  people  to  be  the  origin  and  end  of 
all  government,"  and  enumerating  the  unwarrantable  acts  of 
the  British  parliament,  the  implacability  of  the  king,  and  the 
violence  of  his  ofiicers,  they  established  a  constitution  for  South 
Carolina.     The  executive  power  was  intrusted  to  a  president 
Avho  was  endowed  with  a  veto  on  legislation  and  was  com- 
mander-in-chief;  the  congress  resolved  itself  into  a  general 
assembly,  till  their  successors  should  be  elected  by  the^'people 
in  the  following  October.     The  numerous  and  arbitrary  repre- 
sejitation,  which  had  prevailed  originally  in  the  committee  of 
1774  and  had  been  continued  in  the  first  and  second  congress 
of  1775,  was  confirmed  by  the  new  instrument,  so  that  Charles- 
ton kept  the  right  of  sending  thirty  members  to  the  general 
assembly.     The  old  laws  prescribing  the  qualifications  of  the 
electors  and  the  elected  were  continued  in  force.     A  legislative 
council  of  thirteen  was  to  be  elected  by  the  assembly  out  of 
their  own  body ;  the  assembly  and  the  legislative  council  elected 
jointly  by  ballot  the  president  and  vice-president.     The  privy 
council  of  seven  was  composed  of  the  ^-ice-])resident,  three 
meinbers  chosen  by  ballot  by  the  assembly,  and  three  by  the 
legislative  council.     Tlio  judges  were  chosen  by  joint  ballot  of 
the  two  branches  of  the  legislature,  by  whose  address  they 
might  be  removed,  though  otherwise  they  were  to  hold  office 
dm-ing  good  behavior. 


m 


I. ;  en.  XXV. 
compelled 

G  organic 
ior  officer 
down  to 
two  regi- 
Siilli  van's 
,  live-oak, 
un  M oul- 
;o  hold  a 

he  act  of 
I'ized  the 
0  np  tlio 

i-chirrr., 

id  end  of 
i  acts  of 
,  and  the 
or  South 
)resident 
:as  corn- 
general 
e  people 
y  repre- 
iiittee  of 
congress 
Charles- 
general 
s  of  the 
^islative 
Y  out  of 
[  elected 
le  privy 
t,  three 
by  the 
)alIot  of 
iss  they 
Id  office 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE   OF  FORT  MOULTRIE. 


395 


Ou  the  twenty-seventh,  John  Rutledge  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, Henry  Laurens  vice-president,  ai  I  AVilliain  Henry  Dray- 
ton chief  justice.  On  accepting  office,  Rutledge  addressed  tlie 
general  assembly :  "  To  preside  over  the  welfare  of  a  brave  and 
generous  people  is  in  my  opinion  the  highest  honor  any  man 
can  receive.  In  so  perilous  a  season  as  the  present,  I  will  not 
withhold  my  best  services.  I  assure  myself  of  receiving  the 
supi^ort  and  assistance  of  every  good  man  in  the  colony;  and 
my  most  fervent  prayer  to  the  omnipotent  Ruler  of  the  uni- 
verse is,  that  under  his  gracious  providence  the  liberties  of 
America  may  be  forever  preserved." 

On  the  next  day  t)ie  oaths  of  office  were  administered; 
tlien,  to  display  the  existence  of  the  new  constitution,  the 
council  and  assembly,  preceded  by  the  president  and  vice- 
president  and  by  the  sheriff  bearing  the  sword  of  state,  walked 
out  in  a  solemn  procession  from  the  state-house  to  the  ex- 
change, in  the  presence  of  tlie  troops  and  the  militia  of  South 
Carolina.  The  people,  with  rapture  and  tears  of  joy,  crowded 
round  the  men  whom  they  had  chosen  to  office  from  among 
themselves. 

Early  in  April  the  legislative  bodies  addressed  the  presi- 
dent :  "  Conscious  of  our  natural  and  unalienable  rights,  and 
determined  to  make  every  effort  to  retain  them,  we  see  your 
elevation  from  the  midst  of  us  to  govern  this  country,  as  the 
natural  consequence  of  unprovoked,  cniel,  and  accumulated 
oppressions.  Chosen  by  the  suffrages  of  a  free  peojile,  you 
will  make  the  constitution  the  great  rule  of  your  conduct ;  in 
the  discharge  of  your  duties  under  that  constitution  we  will 
support  you  with  our  lives  ajid  fortunes." 

In  words  penned  by  Dra}i;on  and  Cotesworth  Pinckncy, 
the  assembly  condemned  the  British  plan  of  sending  commis- 
sioners to  treat  M'ith  the  several  colonies  as  a  fraudulent 
scheme  for  subverting  their  liberties  by  negotiations,  and  re- 
solved to  communicate  with  the  court  of  Great  Britain  only 
through  the  continental  congress. 

"When,  on  the  eleventh  of  April,  they  closed  their  session, 
"  On  my  part,"  said  Rutledge,  "  a  most  solemn  oath  has  been 
taken  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  my  duty ;  on  yours,  a  sol- 
emn assurance  has  been  given  to  support  me  therein.     The 


' 'I 
it 


I'  V 


i      I 


i 


896  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ei-.  in. ;  t ...  xxr. 

constitution  shall  be  the  invariable  rule  of  my  conduct.  I  re- 
pose the  most  perfect  confidence  in  your  engagement.  If  any 
persons  in  your  parisiies  and  districts  are  still  strangers  to  the 
merits  of  the  dispute  between  (}reat  Britain  and  tiie  colonics, 
you  will  explain  it  to  them  fully,  and  teach  them  their  inhe- 
rent rights.  The  endeavors  to  engage  barbarous  nations  to 
imbrue  their  hands  in  the  innocent  blood  of  helpless  women 
and  children,  and  the  attempts  to  make  ignorant  domestics 
subservient  to  the  most  wicked  purposes,  are  acts  at  which 
humanity  must  revolt. 

"  Seeing  no  alternative  but  unconditional  submission  or  a 
defence  becoming  men  born  to  freedom,  no  man  who  is  worthy 
of  hfe,  liberty,  or  property  will  hesitate  about  the  choice.  Su- 
perior force  may  lay  waste  our  towns  and  ravage  our  country, 
it  can  never  eradicate  from  the  breasts  of  free  men  those  prin- 
ciples which  are  ingrafted  in  tiieir  very  nature. 

"^  Of  this  colony  tiie  reputation  for  generosity  and  magna- 
nnnity  is  universally  acknowledged.  I  trust  that  the  only  strife 
among  brethren  will  be,  who  shall  do  most  to  serve  and  to  save 
ail  injured  country." 

On  the  twenty-third  of  April  the  court  was  opened  at 
Charleston,  and  the  chief  justice  after  an  elaborate  exposition 
charged  the  grand  jury  in  these  words :  "  The  law  of  the  land 
authorizes  me  to  declare,  and  it  is  my  duty  to  declare  the  law, 
that  George  III.,  king  of  Great  Britain,  has  abdicated  the  gov- 
ernment, that  he  has  no  authority  over  us,  and  we  owe  no  obe- 
dience to  him. 

"It  has  been  the  policy  of  the  British  authority  to  cramp 
and  confine  our  trade  so  as  to  be  subservient  to  their  com- 
merce, our  real  interest  being  ever  out  of  the  (pu'stion ;  the 
new  constitution  is  wisely  adapted  to  enable  us  to  trade  with 
foreign  nations,  and  theieby  to  supply  our  wants  at  the  cheap- 
est markets  in  the  universe;  to  extend  our  trade  infinitely 
beyond  what  has  ever  been  known ;  to  encourage  manufactures 
a"iong  us ;  and  to  promote  the  happiness  of  the  i)eople  from 
among  whom,  by  virtue  and  merit,  tlie  poorest  man  may  arrive 
at  the  higliest  dignity.  The  Almighty  created  America  to  be 
independent  of  Britain  ;  to  refuse  our  labors  in  this  divine  woi-k 
is  to  refuse  to  be  a  great,  a  free,  a  pious,  and  a  hapnv  nfvn-.lo ! " 


wvy  people' 


1778. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FOUT  MOULTUIE. 


au7 


tlie 


lviitlc(];40  wiis  e(iuiil  to  tlio  office  wliicli  lie  had  accoptcd ; 
order  and  method  grew  at  once  out  of  the  Kubstitution  of  a 
Kingle  executive  for  coinnnttees ;  from  him  the  olHcers  (»f  the 
regimentH,  as  well  Jis  of  the  niilitiu,  derived  their  connnissions. 
To  prepare  for  the  Jjritiwh  army  and  naval  scpiadron  which 
wore  known  to  he  on  the  way,  the  mechanics  and  hi!)orcr.s  of 
Ciiarleston,  assisted  by  ^reat  nnmhers  of  negroes  from  the 
country,  were  em[)ioyed  in  fortifying  the  town.  AVhen  the 
veteran  Armstrong  arrived  to  take  the  comuumd  of  the  army, 
he  found  little  more  to  do  than  receive  tlie  hospitalities  of  the 
iidiahitants. 

The  I'ritish  licet  and  transports  designed  to  act  in  Carolina 
did  not  leave  Cork  harbor  till  February ;  they  were  scattered 
by  a  storm  soon  after  going  to  sea;  they  met  most  violent 
adverse  gales  and  winds ;  and  not  till  the  third  of  May,  after  a 
l)assago  of  more  than  eighty  days,  did  Sir  Peter  Parker,  Corn- 
wallis,  and  such  shii)s  as  kept  them  coni])any,  enter  Cape  Fear 
river  and  deliver  to  Clinton  his  instructions.  These  instruc- 
tions directed  him  to  proclaim  pardon  to  all  but  "  the  priuci- 
])al  instigators  of  the  rebellion,  to  dissolve  jn'ovincial  congresses 
and  connnittees  of  safety,  to  restore  the  regular  administration 
of  justice,  to  arrest  the  persons  and  destroy  the  ])roperty  of  all 
who  should  refuse  to  give  satisfactory  tests  of  their  obedience." 
From  North  Carolina  he  might  proceed  at  his  own  choice  to 
Virginia  or  to  South  Caroluia,  iu  hke  manner  "to  seize  the 
persons  and  destroy  the  property  of  rebels."  If  he  ])roceeded 
to  South  Carolina  he  was  to  rctluce  Charleston,  as  a  prelude  to 
the  fall  of  Savannah. 

All  joined  "  to  lament  the  fatal  delays."  It  was  too  late 
to  invade  North  (Carolina,  which  had  sni)pressed  its  loyal  in- 
surrection. With  the  formidable  armament  Clinton  inclined  to 
look  into  the  Chesapeake,  which  woidd  biing  him  nearer  New 
York ;  but  Lord  AVilliam  Campbell  urged  an  attack  on  Charles- 
ton ;  and,  as  intelligence  was  received  "  that  the  works  erected 
by  the  rebels  on  Sullivan's  Island,  whicli  was  the  key  to  the 
harbor,  were  unfinished,  ('linton  acipiiescicd  in  the  pro])osal  of 
the  conunodore  to  attem])t  the  reduction  of  that  fortress  by  a 
sudden  attack." 

Before  leaving  his  govcmnient,  Martin  had  sent  a  party  to 


I  \i 


;i ' 


!  I  •    Jl! 


398  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxv. 

burn  the  house  of  Hooper,  the  nohle-miuded  delegate  in  the 
continental  congress;  Cornwallis,  MJth  nhie  hundred  men- 
it  was  his  first  e.\])loit  in  America— landed  in  Bi-unswick 
county,  and,  with  a  loss  of  two  men  killed  and  one  taken  pris- 
oner, burned  and  ravaged  the  plantation  of  Eobert  Howe. 
As  the  British  retired  froni  North  Car.)lina,  Clinton  in  a 
proclamation  of  the  fifth  of  May  invited  the  people  "  to  ap- 
pease the  vengeance  of  an  incensed  nation,"  and  oifered  par- 
don to  all  who  would  submit,  except  Robert  Howe  and  Corne- 
lius TIarnett. 

Tlie  peace  of  Charleston  was  undisturbed  except  by  gather- 
ing ruinors  that  an  English  Heet  and  transports  had  arrfved  in 
Cape  Fear  river.  Its  citizens,  taking  courage  from  the  effi- 
ciency with  which  the  govermnent  of  the  colony  was  ad- 
ministered, toiled  in  the  trenches;  and  bands  of  negroes  from 
the  neighboring  plantations  were  employed  upon  the  works. 
The  bloom  of  the  magnolia  was  yellowing,  when,  on  the  first 
day  of  June,  expresses  from  Christ  Church  parish  brought 
news  to  the  president  that  a  fleet  of  forty  or  fifty  sail  tiy 
anchored  about  twenty  miles  to  the  north  of  Charieston  bar. 

Rutledgc  ordered  the  alarm  to  be  fired;  and  while  the 
townsmen  were  looking  out  for  horses,  carriages  or  boats  t(^  re- 
move their  wives  and  children,  he  called  down  the  militia  from 
the  counti-y  by  expresses,  and,  in  company  with  Armstron<^ 
who  arrived  toward  the  end  of  April,  visited  all  the  fortified 
turns.  Barricades  were  thrown  uj^  across  the  ]>rincipal  streets ; 
defences  were  raised  at  the  points  most  likely  to  be  selected 
tor  landmg;  lead,  gleaned  from  the  weights  of  windows,  was 
cast  mto  nmsket-balls ;  and  a  respectable  force  was  concen- 
tred at  the  capitol. 

The  invaders  of  South  Carolina  had  come  onlv  upon  the 
most  positive  assurances  that  the  friends  of  the  Bi-itish  o-ov- 
ernment  in  the  province  would  rise  at  their  bare  appearance. 
At  a  moment  when  instant  action  was  essential  to  their  suc- 
cess they  \vere  perplexed  by  uncertaintv  of  counsel  l)etween 
Chnton  and  Sir  I>eter  Parker,  the  respective  connuanders  of 
the  army  and  the  naval  fon-.  On  the  eighth  Mouhrie  re- 
ceived from  Clinton  the  i)r()clamatioii.  in  M-hir-h  the  British 
general  declared  the  existence  of  -a  most  unprovoked  and 


i.t  I 


I. ;  en.  XXV. 

ite  in  tlie 
3(1  men — 
ii'unswick 
aken  pris- 
ft  Howe, 
iton  in  a 
e  "  to  aj)- 
'ered  i)ar- 
id  Corue- 

)y  gatlicr- 

irrived  in 

tlie  effi- 

■  was  ad- 
oes  from 
le  works. 

tlie  first 
brought 

■  sail  la J 
in  bar. 
diile  tlio 
ats  to  re- 
itia  from 
•mstrong 
fortifiea- 
l  streets ; 

selected 

3WS,  was 

concen- 

jion  the 
ish  gov- 
earance. 
leir  snc- 
l)etween 
idcrs  of 
Itrio  re- 
T^ritisli 
:ed  and 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FORT  MOULTRIE. 


399 


wicked  rebellion  within  Sonth  Carolina,"  the  "succession  of 
crhues  of  its  inliabitants,"  the  tyranny  of  its  congress  and  com- 
mittees, the  error,  thus  far  incorrigible,  of  an  "  infatuated  and 
misguided  multitude,"   the   duty   of  "proceeding  forthwith 
against  all  bodies  of  men  in  anns,  congresses,  and  connnittees, 
as  open  enemies  of  the  state  ;"  but  "from  Immuuity  "  he  con- 
sented "  to  forewarn  the  deluded  people,"  and  to  offer  in  the 
king's  name  "  free  pardon  to  such  as  should  lay  down  their 
arms  and  submit  to  the  laws."    Having  done  this,  he  consulted 
Cornwallis  on  the  best  means  of  gaining  possession  of  Sulli- 
van's Island ;  and  both  agreed  that  they  could  not  more  effec- 
tually co-operate  with  the  intended  movement  of  the  fleet  than 
by  landing  on  Long  Island,  which  was  said  to  comnmnicate 
with  Sullivan's  Island  at  low  water  by  a  ford.     Clinton  had 
had  four  days'  time  to  sound  Lhe  ford  ;  but  he  took  the  story  of 
its  shallowness  on  trust. 

General  Lee  travelled  leisurely  to  the  south,  in  March  taFc- 
ing  up  his  quarters  in  the  palace  of  the  British  govei-nors  at 
Williamsburg.     As  (pierulous  as  ever,  he  praised  the  congress 
of  Xew  York  as  angels  of  liglit  compared  with  the  Virginia 
committee  of  safety.    He  dii-ected  the  arrest  of  Eden,  the'gov- 
ernor  of  Maryland,  without  ceremony  or  delay,  though  Uiat 
province  was  not  within  his  district,  and  resented  the  interfer- 
ence.   Not  till  the  fourth  of  Juno  did  he  reach  Charleston. 
On  the  ninth,  attended  by  his  aides-de-camp  and  by  Robert 
Howe  of  Xorth  Carolina,  he  inspected  Haddrell's 'point  in 
the  bay  of  Charleston.     After  examining  its  fortifications  he 
crossed  to  Sullivan's  Island,  where  he  found  a  fort  of  which 
the  front  and  one  side  were  finished;   aiul   twelve   hundred 
men  encamped  in  its  rear  in  booths  that  Avere  roofed  with 
])alnietto  leaves.    Within  the  fort,  mechanics  and  laborers  were 
lifting  and  fitting  heavy  palmetto  logs  for  its  walls.     He  had 
scarce  glanced  at  the  work  when  he  declared  that  "  he  did  not 
like  that  post;  it  could  not  hold  out  half  an  hour;  there  A\as 
no  way  to  retreat;"  it  was  but  a  "slaughter  pen,"  and  the 
garrison  would  bo  saeriticed. 

The  battalions  raised  in  South  Carolina,  although  congress 


l>ore  its  pro{)ortioii  of  their  co.>^l,  still  remained  under  the  dl 
tion  of  the  president  of  the  colony  and  its  ollicers.     This  cir- 


I'ec- 


J  ■  f^ 


!i>     ,t 


400  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EI".  III. ;  cii.  XXV. 


ll 


cnmstanee  became  of  the  greatest  iini^ortance.     To  Armstrong 
no  command  whatever  had  been  conceded ;  Lee  wius  invested 
witli  tlie  military  command  only  through  an  order  from  Rut- 
ledge.     AVeeks  afterward  he  continued  in  secret  to  express  im- 
patience at  "  this  complex  play  they  were  acting  of  Duke  and 
no  Duke ; "  *  but  with  Kutledge  he  to(»k  care  to  avoid  a  rupture. 
On  that  same  day  Clinton  landed  four  or  five  hundred  men 
on  Long  Island,  showing  that  the  first  attack  was  to  be  made 
on  the  outpost  of  the  city.    Lee  proposed  to  Rutledgo  to  with- 
draw from  Sullivan's  Island  witliout  a  blow;  but  ruitledge, 
interposiiig  his  authority,  would  not  suffer  it ;  yet  on  the  tenth 
the  very  first  order  of  Lee  to  J\[oultrie,  exce])t  one  which  was  re- 
voked as  soon  as  issued,  directed  that  officer  to  construct  brid-'-es 
for  liis  retreat,  and  he  repeated  and  enforced  the  order  sevei-al 
times  that  day  and  on  almost  every  succeeding  one.     Happily 
Moultrie's  courage  was  of  that  ])lacid  kind  that  could  not  be 
niade  anxious  or  uneasy  ;  he  weighed  carefully  his  danger  and 
his  resources ;  with  imperturbable  confidence,  formed  his  plan 
for  rei)elling  the  impending  attack  by  sea  and  by  land ;  and 
never  admitted  the  thought  that  he  could  be  driven  from  his 
post. 

On  tlie  tentli,  wliik^  the  continental  congress  was  finishino- 
the  debate  on  independence,  the  Bristol,  whose  guns  had  been 
previously  taken  out,  came  over  the  bar,  attended  by  thirty  or 
forty  vessels,  and  anchored  at  al)out  tliree  miles  from  Fort 
Sullivan.  In  Cliarleston,  from  which  this  movement  was  dis- 
tinctly visible,  all  was  action ;  on  the  wharfs,  warehouses  of 
great  value  were  thrown  down  to  give  room  for  the  fire  of 
caimon  and  musketry  from  the  lines  along  East  bay;  intrench- 
ments  surrounded  the  town ;  the  barricades,  in  tlie  i)rincipal 
streets,  were  continued  to  the  water ;  and  arrow-headed  em- 
bankments were  projected  upon  the  landiiig-jdaces.  Every  one 
without  distinction  "labored  wiili  alacrii-^y"  in  sun  and  in 
rain. 

On  the  eleventh  the  two  regiments  from  Xorth  Carolinii 
arrived.  Tliat  Kune  day  Lee,  not  being  pcnuitted  by  liut- 
ledgo  to  direct  the  total  evacuation  of  the  island,  ordered  Moul- 
trie immediately  to  send  four  Inmdred  of  his  men  over  to  the 

*  Cliai-lcH  Lui)  to  ratiicli  Iluury,  29  July  1770. 


III. ;  cii.  XXV. 

Armstrong 
lus  invested 
from  Rut- 
?xprcss  iiu- 
Diike  and 
1  a  rupture, 
ndred  men 
;o  1)8  made 
?o  to  with- 
liutledge, 
I  tlie  tenth 
icli  was  re- 
let bridges 
3er  several 
Happily 
uld  not  be 
anger  and 
d  bis  ])lan 
land ;  and 
1  from  bis 

finisbinof 
bad  been 
'  tliirty  or 
rom  Fort 
t  was  dis- 
sbouses  of 
le  fire  of 
intrencli- 
principal 
aded  em- 
Cvery  one 
1   and  in 

Carolinii 

by  liut- 

•ed  jVIouI- 

■er  to  tlio 


1776. 


THE   BATTLE   OF  FORT   MOULTRIE. 


401 


continent ;  m  bis  postscript  be  added :  "  Afalce  up  the  detach- 
nient  to  five  hundred."  On  tlie  tbirteentli  be  writes-  "  You 
wdl  detach  auotlier  hundred  of  men  "  to  strengthen  the  corps 
on  the  otlier  side  oi  the  creek.  Ihit  South  Carolina  wius  with 
JVloultne,  and  mechanics  and  negro  lal)orers  were  sent  down  to 
help  m  the  work  on  his  fort.  On  the  twelfth  tlie  wind  blew 
so  violently  tliat  two  ships  which  lay  outside  of  the  bar  ^vevo 
obliged  for  safety  to  stand  ont  to  sea,  and  this  assisted  to  post- 
pone the  attack.  ^ 

^    On  the  lifteentb  Lee  stationed  Armstrong,  i\r()ultrie's  sni^e- 
rior,  at  lladdrell's  point;  but  the  brave  Pennsylvanian,  mani- 
festmg  for  Moultrie  a  hearty  friendship,  never  interfered  with 
him      On  that  same  day  Sir  Peter  P..,-ker  gave  to  the  captains 
ot    us  squadi-on  his  arrangement  for  taking  tlie  batteries  on 
bulhvans  Island;  and  on  tlie  sixteenth  be  commuuieated  it  to 
Clinton.     The  conduct  of  the  Ihitisli  betravcd  hesitation  and 
unharmonious  councils;  and  the  Carolinians  made  such  use  of 
the  consequent  delay  that  by  the  seventeenth  they  were  in  an 
exceedingly  good  state  of  preparation  at  every  outpost  and  in 
town,    i  o  cai)ture  and  garrison  Sullivan's  Island,  Clinton,  con- 
sulting witl,  C.rnwallis,  landed  his  army  of  more  than  three 
thousand  men,  thoroughly  provided  with  arms,  artillerv,  and 
ammunition,  on  Long  Island,  a  naked  sand,  where  nothing 
grew  except  a  few  bushes  that  harbored  myriads  of  mosquitoes 
and  where  the  troops  suffered  from  the  burning  sun,  the  want 
of  good  water  and  the  bad  quality  and  insuflicieut  supply  of 
provisions.     After  every  man  had  been  IaiHle<l  it  occurred  to 
Clinton  to  make  a  trial  of  the  ford.     He  wa<led  in  up  to  bis 
neck;  so  did  others  of  his  officers;  and  then  be  announced, 
through  Vaugl.an  to  Sir  Peter  Parker,  that  there  remained 
seven  feet  of  water  at  low  tide ;  and  that  therefore  tlie  troops 
could  not  take  the  share  they  expected  in  the  iiitcn.led  attack 
Com])elled  to  propose  something,  Clinton  fixed  on  the  twenty- 
tlurd  for  the  joint  attack;  but  it  was  hindered  on  that  day  bv 
an  unfavorable  wind. 

In   the  following  night   Muhlenberg's   regiment  arrived 
On  receiving  Lee's  ord(M-s,  they  had  instantly  set  off  from  Vir- 
gmia  and  marched  to  Charleston  wilhout  tents. 
posed  to  the  weather.     Of  all  the  V 


t 
f 


VOL.    IV.— 20 


coniiniially  ex- 
irgiuia  regiments,  tliis  was 


■I      ( 


J.Ji. 


402  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE.     Er,  iii. ;  on.  ixv. 

the   most  coniplcto,  tlio  best   armed,  best   clothed,  and  bepc 
equipped  for  immediate  service. 

The  confidence  of  Sir  Peter  Pai-ker  was  unshaken.  To 
make  all  sure,  he  exercised  a  body  of  mai-ines  and  seamen  in 
the  art  of  entering  a  fort  throuorji  its  eml)iusures.  Coming 
down  to  tlie  island,  Lee  took  Moultrie  aside  and  said :  "  Do 
you  think  you  can  maintain  this  post?"  Moultrie  answered: 
"  Yes,  I  thiidc  I  can."  Lee  fretted  at  Moultrie's  too  easy  dis- 
position, and  wished  to  remove  him  from  the  connnand. 

( )n  the  twenty-fifth  the  S(|uadron  was  increased  by  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Experiment,  a  ship  of  sixty  guns,  which  passed 
the  bar  on  the  next  day.     Letters  of  encouragement  came  from 
Tonyn,  then  governor  of  East  Florida,  who  was  impatient  for 
an  attack  on  (leorgia;  he  would  have  had  a  body  of  Indians 
raised  on  the  back  of  South  Carolina  and  a  body  of  royalists 
to  "terrify  and  distract,  so  that  the  assault  at  Charleston  would 
have  struck  an  astonishing  terror  and  affright."     lie  reported 
Soutli   (Carolina   to  be  in   "a   nuitinous  s^tate  that   delighted 
him  ; "  "  the  men  would  certainly  rise  on  their  officers ;  the 
battery  on  Sullivan's  Island  would  not  discharge  two  rounds." 
This  opinion  was  spread  through  the  ileet,  and  became  the 
belief  of  every  sailor.      With  or  without  Clinton's  aid,  the 
conunodoi-e  was  persuaded  that   he  could  silence  Moultrie's 
batteiies,  and  that  then  his  well-drilled  seamen  and  marines 
could  take  and  keep  possession  of  the  fort,  till  Clinton  should 
"  send  as  many  troops  as  ho  might  think  ])roper,  who  might 
enter  the  fort  in  the  same  w^y." 

One  day  Captain  Lempriere,  the  same  wdio  in  the  former 
year  had  taken  more  than  a  hundred  barrels  of  powder  from  a 
vessel  at  anchor  off  St.  Augustine,  was  M^alking  with  Moultrie 
on  the  platform,  and,  looking  at  the  British  shi])s-of-war,  all  of 
which  had  already  come  over  the  bar,  addressed  him  :  "  Well, 
colonel,  what  do  you  thiidv  of  it  now?"  "We  shall  beat 
tliem,"  said  IMoultrie.  "The  men-of-war,"  rejoined  the  cap- 
tarn,  "  will  knock  your  fort  down  in  half  an  hour."  "  Then," 
said  l\[oultrie,  "  we  will  lie  behind  the  ruins  and  prevent  their 
men  from  landing." 

On  the  moruing  of  the  twenty-eighth  a  gentle  sea-breeze 
summoned  to  the  attack.     Lee,  from  Charleston,  for  the  tenth 


(.1 


i  I  < )' 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FOIIT  MOULTRIE. 


403 


or  eleventh  time,  elunrged  Moultrie  to  finish  the  bridge  for  his 
retreat,  promised  hirn  re-enforeeuients  which  he  never  sent,  and 
still  meditated  removing  him  from  his  conunand  ;  while  Moul- 
trie, whose  faculties  under  the  outward  sliow  of  indolent  calm 
were  strained  to  their  utmost  tension,  rode  to  visit  his  advanced 
guard  on  the  east.     Here  the  commander,  William  Thomson 
of  Orangeburg,  of  Irish  descent,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
but  from  childhood  a  citizen  of  South  Carolina,  a  man  of  rare 
worth,  as  an  officer  brave  and  intelligent,  had,  at  the  extreme 
ponit,  posted  fifty  of  the  militia  behind  sand-hills  and  myrtle 
bushes      A  few  hundred  yards  in  the  rear,  breastworks  had 
been  thrown  up,  which  he  guarded  with  three  hundred  riHcmen 
0.  his  own  regiment  from  Orangeburg  and  its  neighborhood, 
with  two  hundred  of  Clark's  North  Carolina  regiment,  two 
hundred  .nore  of  the  men  of  South  Carolina  under  Ilorry,  and 
the  raccoon  company  of  riflemen.     On  his  left  he  Avas  pro- 
tected by  a  morass  ;  on  his  right  by  one  eighteen-pounder  and 
one  brass  six-pounder,  which  overlooked  the  spot  where  Clinton 
would  wish  to  land. 

Seeing  the  enemy's  boats  in  motion  on  the  beach  of  Lono- 
Island  and  the  men-of-war  loosing  their  topsails,  Moultrie  hui- 
ried  back  to  his  fort.     He  ordered  the  long  roll  to  beat,  and 
officers  and  men  to  their  posts.     Ilis  whole  number,  includino. 
himself   and   officers,   was   four  Imndred   and   thirty-five    of 
whom  twenty-two  Avere  of  the  artillery,  the  rest  of  his  own 
regnnent— men  who  were  bound  to  each  other,  to  their  officers, 
and  to  him,  by  personal  affection  and  confidence.    Xext  to  him 
in  command  was  Isaac  Motte  ;  his  major  was  the  fearless  and 
faultless  Francis  IMarion.     The  fort  was  a  square,  with  a  bas- 
tion at  each  angle ;  built  of  palmetto  logs,  dovetailed  and  bolted 
together,  and  laid  in  iwrallel  rows  sixteen  feet  asunder,  with 
sand  filled  in  between  the  rows.     On  the  eastern  and  northern 
sides  the  palmetto  wall  was  only  seven  feet  high,  but  it  was 
surmounted  by  thick  plank,  so  as  to  be  tenable  against  a  scaling 
party ;  a  traverse  of  sand  extended  from  cast  to  west.     The 
southern  and  western  curtains  M'cre  finished  with  their  plat- 
forms, on  which  cannon  were  mounted.     The  standard,  which 
M-as  advanced  to  the  S()uth-(>aFt  bastion,  displayed  a  flag  of  blue 
with  a  white  crescent  on  which  was  embiazonod   Liberty. 


ll 


I       Ul 


40i  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  m.;  cu.xxv. 

The  number  of  cannon  in  tlie  fort,  bastions  and  tlie  two  cava- 
liers was  but  tliirty-one,  of  whicli  no  more  than  twenty-one 
could  at  the  same  time  be  brought  into  use ;  of  aumiunition, 
there  were  but  twenty-eight  rounds  for  twenty-six  cannon. 
At  Iladdrell's  point,  across  the  bay,  Armstrong  had  about  fif- 
teen hundred  men.  The  first  regular  South  Carolina  regiment, 
under  Christopher  Gadsden,  occupied  Fort  Johnson,  which 
stood  on  tlie  most  northerly  part  of  James  Island,  about  three 
miles  from  Charleston,  and  within  point-blai  L  shot  of  the  chan- 
nel. The  city  was  protected  by  more  than  two  thousand  men. 
Half  an  hour  after  nine  in  the  morning  the  commodore 
gave  signal  to  Chnton  that  he  should  proceed  to  the  attack. 
An  hour  later  the  ships-of-war  were  under  way.  Gadsden, 
Cotesworth  Piuckney,  and  the  rest  at  Fort  Johnson  watched 
all  their  movements ;  in  Charleston,  the  wharfs  and  water-side 
along  the  bay  were  crowded  with  troops  under  arms  and  look- 
ers-on. Their  adversary  must  be  foiled  or  their  city  will  be 
sacked  and  burnt,  and  the  savages  on  the  frontier  spring  from 
their  lurking-places. 

The  Thunderbomb,  covered  by  the  Friendship,  began  the 
action  by  throwing  shells,  which  it  continued  till  more  than 
sixty  were  discharged  ;  of  these,  some  burst  in  the  air ;  one 
lighted  on  the  magazine  without  doing  injury  ;  the  rest  sunk 
in  the  morass  or  were  buried  in  the  sand  within  the  fort.     At 
about  a  quarter  to  eleven  the  Active,  of  twenty-eight  guns, 
disregarding  four  or  five  shots  fired  at  her  while  under  sail ; 
the  Bristol,  with  fifty  guns,  having  on  board  Sir  Peter  Parker 
and  Lord  William  Campbell,  the  royal  governor  of  South 
Carolina ;  the  Experiment,  of  fifty  guns ;  and  the  Solebay,  of 
twenty-eight— brought  up  within  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  let  go  their  anchors  with  springs  upon 
their  cables,  and  began  a  most  furious  cannonade.    Every  sailor 
expected  that  two  broadsides  wjuld  end  the  strife;  but  the 
soft,  fibrous,  spongy  palmetto  withstood  the   rapid  fire,  and 
neither  sjilit  nor  splintered  nor  started ;  and  the  ])arapet  was 
high  enough  to  protect-  the  men  on  the  platforms.     When 
broadsides  from  three  or  four  of  the  men-of-war  struck  the 
logs  at  the  same  instant,  the  shock  gave  the  merlons  a  tremor, 
but  the  pile  remained  uninjured.     Moultrie  had  but  one  tenth 


II. ;  cii.  XXV. 

i  two  cava- 
;wenty-one 
imunition, 
ix  caTinon. 

about  fif- 
L  regiment, 
on,  which 
bout  three 
:  the  chan- 
sancl  men. 
ommodore 
the  attack. 

Gadsden, 
n  watched 
water-side 
I  and  look- 
■,y  will  be 
•ring  from 

began  the 
nore  than 
air ;  one 
rest  sunk 
fort.     At 
ght  guns, 
nder  sail ; 
cr  Parker 
of  South 
alebay,  of 
dred  and 
ngs  upon 
'ery  sailor 
;  but  the 
fire,  and 
rapet  was 
;.     When 
Tuck  the 
a  tremor, 
ane  tenth 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FOliT  MOULTRIE. 


405 


as  many  guns  as  were  brought  to  bear  on  him,  and  was,  more- 
over, obliged  to  stint  the  use  of  powder.  His  guns  accordingly 
were  fired  very  slowly,  the  officers  taking  aim,  and  waiting 
always  for  the  smoke  to  clear  away  that  they  might  point 
with  more  precision.  "  Mind  the  commodore,  mind  the  fifty- 
gun  ships,"  were  the  words  that  passed  along  the  platform 
from  officers  and  men. 

"  Shall  I  send  for  more  powder  ? "  asked  Moultrie  of  Motte. 
"  To  be  sure,"  said  Motte.  And  Moultrie  wrote  to  Lee :  "  I 
believe  we  shall  want  more  powder.  At  the  rate  we  go  on,  I 
think  we  shall ;  but  you  can  see  that.  Pray  send  us  more,  if 
you  think  proper." 

More  vessels  were  seen  coming  up,  and  cannon  were  heard 
from  the  north-east.  Clinton  had  promised  support.  Not 
knowing  what  else  to  do,  he  directed  the  batteries  on  Long 
Island  to  open  a  cannonade ;  and  several  shells  were  thrown 
into  Thomsons  intrenchments,  doing  no  damage  beyond 
wounding  one  soldier.  The  fii-ing  was  returned  by  Thomson 
with  his  one  eighteen-pounder ;  but,  from  the  distance,  with 
little  effect. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  light  infantry,  grenadiers,  and  the 
fifteenth  regiment  embarked  in  boats,  while  floating  batteries 
and  armed  craft  got  under  way  to  cover  the  landing ;  but  the 
American  defences  were  well  constructed,  the  approach  diffi- 
cult, Thomson  vigilant,  and  his  men  skilful  sharpshooters. 
The  detachment  had  hardly  left  Long  Island  before  it  was  or- 
dered to  disembark,  for  it  was  seen  that  "  the  landing  was 
impracticable,  and  would  have  been  the  destruction  of  many 
brave  men,  without  the  least  probability  of  success."  "  It  was 
impossible''  says  Clinton,  "to  decide  positively  upon  any 
plan  ; "  and  he  did  nothing. 

The  commodore,  at  Clinton's  request,  sent  three  frigates  to 
co-operate  with  him  in  an  attack  on  Iladdrell's  point ;  it  would 
have  been  still  more  desperate,  and  was  not  attempted.  The 
people  of  Charleston,  as  they  looked  from  the  battery  with 
senses  quickened  by  the  nearness  of  danger,  beheld  the  Sphinx, 
the  Acteon,  and  the  Syren,  each  of  twenty-eight  guns,  sailing 
as  if  to  get  between  Iladdrcirs  point  and  the  fort,  so  as  to  en- 
filade the  -works,  and,  when  the  rebels  should  be  di'iven  from 


400 


AMERICA  AKMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ki-.  m. ;  cu.  xxv. 


t  '  m 


^f    :.  li  u 


<  f 


them,  to  cut  oil  tlieir  retreat.  It  was  a  moment  of  danger,  for 
the  fort  ou  tliat  siclo  was  unlinished ;  but  the  pilots,  keeping 
too  far  to  the  south,  ran  all  the  three  u])ou  a  bank  of  sand, 
known  as  the  Lower  Middle  Ground.  Seeing  the  frigates  thus 
entangled,  the  beholders  in  tlie  town  wei'o  swayed  alternately 
by  fears  and  hopes ;  the  armed  inhabitants  stood  every  one  at 
his  post,  uncertain  but  that  they  might  be  called  to  innnediato 
action,  liiu-dly  daring  to  believe  that  Moultrie's  small  an<l  ill- 
furnished  garrison  could  beat  oil  the  s.piadron,  when  behold  ! 
his  tiag  disa])pears.  Fearing  that  his  colors  had  been  struck, 
they  prepared  to  meet  the  invaderp  at  the  water's  edge. 

In  the  fort,  AVilliam  Jas^jcr,  a  sei-geant,  ])ei'ceived  that  the 
flag  had  been  cut  down  by  a  ball  from  the  enemy,  and  had 
fallen  over  the  ramparts.  "Colonel,"  said  he  to  Moultrie, 
"  don't  let  us  tight  without  a  tlaff." 

"  What  can  you  do  'i "  asked  Moidtrie  ;  "  the  staff  is  broken 
off." 

"  Then,"  said  Jasper,  "  I'll  fix  it  to  a  halberd,  and  place  it 
on  the  merlon  of  the  bastion  next  the  enemy;"  and,  lea])ing 
through  an  embrasure,  and  braving  the  thickest  fire  from  the 
shi^ ,  he  took  up  the  Hag,  returned  with  it  safely,  and  planted 
it,  as  he  had  promised,  on  the  summit  of  the  merlon. 

The  sea  gleamed  with  light;  the  almost  vertical  sun  of 
midsummer  glared  from  a  cloudless  sky ;  and  the  intense  heat 
was  increased  by  the  blaze  from  the  cannon  on  the  platform. 
All  of  the  garrison  were  without  coats  during  the  action,  and 
some  were  nearly  naked ;  Moultrie  and  several  of  the  officers 
smoked  their  pipes  as  they  gave  their  orders.  They  knew  that 
their  movements  were  observed  from  the  house-tops  of  Charles- 
ton ;  by  the  veteran  Armstrong  and  the  little  army  at  Ilad- 
drell's  point ;  by  Gadsden,  who  at  Fort  Johnson  was  chafing 
with  discontent  at  not  being  in  the  centre  of  danger.  Exposed 
to  an  hicessant  cannonade,  which  seemed  sufficient  to  daunt 
the  bravest  veterans,  they  stuck  to  their  guns  with  the  greatest 
constancy. 

Hit  by  a  ball  which  entered  through  an  embrasure,  Mac- 
daniel  cried  out  to  his  brother  soldiers:  "lam  dying,  but 
don't  let  the  cause  of  liberty  expire  with  me  this  day."  Jas- 
per removed  the  mangled  corpse  from  the  sight  of  his  coni' 


I;! 


III. ;  ou.  XXV. 

iltinger,  for 
ts,  keeping 
ik  of  Siuul, 
igiites  thus 
tilteriiiitely 
vry  ojie  at 
iminediato 
ill  aiul  ill- 
ii  behold ! 
en  struck, 
Ige. 

d  that  tlio 

',  and  had 

Moultrie, 

'  is  broken 

d  place  it 

d,  lea])ing 

from  the 

d  planted 

!al  sun  of 
;ense  heat 
platform, 
ction,  and 
le  officers 
knew  that 
f  Charles- 
r  at  llad- 
is  chafing 
Exposed 
to  daunt 
e  greatest 


ure,  ]\[ac- 

ying,  but 

,y."     Jas- 

his  com- 


1776. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FORT  MOULTRIE. 


407 


rades,  and  cried   aloud:    "Let  us  revenge  that  brave  man's 
death ! " 

The  slow   antl   skilfully  diret^ted  lire  against  the    Uristol 
shattered  that  ship,  and  carried  wounds  and  death.     Neither 
the  tide  nor  the  wind  suffered  the  JJritish  s(pui(lron  to  retire. 
Oiu'e  the  springs  ou  the  cables  of  the  J'ristol  were  swept  away; 
jw  she  swung  round  with  her  stei-n  toward  the  fort,  she  drew 
upon  herscIF  the  tire  of  every  gun  that  could  be  brou«dit  to 
bear  upon  her.     Of  all  who  in  the  beginning  of  the  action 
were  stationed  on  her  (piarter-deck,  not  one  esca])ed   beiii" 
killed  or  wounded.     For  a  moment,  it  is  said,  the  commodore 
stood  alone.    Morris, his  ca|)tain,  having  the  forearm  shattered 
by  a  chain-shot,  and  receiving  a  wound  in  the  neck,  was  taken 
into  the  cockpit;  but,  after  submitting  to  a.nputation,  ho  in- 
sisted on  being  carrie<l  on  the  (piarter  deck  once  uu)re,  where 
he  resumed  coimnand  till  he  was  shot  through  the  body,  when 
feeling  dissolution  near,  he  commended  his  family  to  the  provi- 
dence of  (rod  and  the  generosity  of  his  country.     Meantime 
the  eyes  of  the  commodore  and  of  all  on  board  his  fleet  were 
"  frecpiently  and  impatiently"  and  vainly  turned  toward  the 
army.     If  the  tr()o])s  would  but  co-operate,  he  was  sure  of 
gaining  the  island ;  for  at  about  one  o'clock  he  believed  that 
he  had  silenced  the  guns  of  the  rebels,  and  that  the  fort  was  on 
the  point  of  being  evacuated.    But  the  pause  was  owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  powder,  of  which  the  little  that  remained  to  Moul- 
trie was  reserved  for  the  musketry,  as  a  defeiice  against  an  ex- 
pected attack  from  the  land  forces.     Lee  should  of  himself 
have  replenished  his  stock  ;  Moultrie  had  Bcasomd)ly  recpiested 
it,  but  in  the  heat  of  the  action  he  Yeeeivcd  from  Lee  this  an- 
svyer:  "If  you  should  unfortunately  expend  your  ammunition 
without  beating  off  the  enemy  or  driving  them  on  ground, 
spike  your  guns  and  retreat." 

A  little  later  a  better  message  came  from  Tlutledge,  at 
Charleston :  "  I  send  you  five  hundred  pounds  of  powder.  You 
know  our  collection  is  not  very  great.  Honor  and  victory  to 
yor,  and  our  worthy  countrymen  with  you.  Do  not  make  too 
free  with  your  caimon.  V,o  cool  and  do  mischief."  These  five 
hundred  pounds  of  powder,  with  two  hundred  ponnds  from  a 
schooner  lying  at  the  back  of  the  fort,  were  all  the  supplies 


s.l 


.■  iSJ 


!    '' 


': 


408  AVKUICX  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENTE.    e...,„.;  cn.xxv. 

that  ]\[ouItne  roceivod.     At  tl.rec  in  tlio  afternoon,  l,.,.  on  -x 
report  from  hi.  aido-de-oanii),  Dyrd,  sent  MuhIenher..'H  Vir- 
ginia rillcMuen  to  re-cnforee  Thomson.     A  little  hef„re  iive 
.Monltne  was  ahlo  to  renew  hi.s  iire.     At  about  live,  the  ma- 
nnen  in  the  ships'  tops,  seein-  a  lieutenant  with  ei-l.t  or  ten 
men  remove  the  heav.y  harrieade  fnmi  the  gateway  of  the  fort, 
liought  that  Moultrie  and  his  party  were  about  to  retreat- 
but  the  p.teway  was  unbarred  to  receive  a  visit  from  Lee.' 
Ihe   oth<vrs,    hall    naked,  and   bc^mmed  with   the    hot  day's 
work,  respectfully  laid  down  their  pipes  as  he  drew  near.    Tl,e 
general    nmself  pointed  two  or  three  ^nms,  after  N.-hu-h  he  said 
to  Aoultne:  'Holonel,  I  see  you  are  doin.  very  well  here 

and  thus  he  left  the  fort,  '^      ' 

When,  at  a  few  nduutes  past  seven,  the  sun  went  down  in 
a  blaze  ot_  light,  the  battle  was  still  ragiu.^^  though  the  British 
showed  signs  of  weari.iess.     The  hdiabitants  of  Charleston 
whom  the  evening  sea-breeze  collected  on  the  battery,  could 
behold  the  Hag  of  liberty  still  proudly  waving;  and  th(.y  con- 
tnmed  ga.u.g  anxiously,  till  the  short  twilight  was  suddenly 
merged  m  the  deep  darkness  of  a  southern  night,  when  noth- 
ing  was  seen  but  continual  Hashes,  fe'Iowed  by  peals  as  it  wore 
of  thunder  coming  out  from  a  heavy  cloud.    Many  thousand  shot 
u-cn-c  hred  from  the  shipping,  and  hardly  a  hut  or  a  tree  on  the 
L^land  remained  unhurt;  but  the  Avorks  were  very  little  dam- 
aged, aiul  only  one  gun  was  silenced.    The  iiring  from  the  fort 
eontmued  slowly  ;  and  the  few  shot  they  were  able  to  send  were 
hoard  to  strd<e  against  the  shij,s'  tind.ers.  Just  after  nine  o'clock 
a  great  part  of  h.s  annnunition  being  expended  in  a  cannonade 
ot  about  ten  hours,  his  people  fatigued,  the  Ih-istol  and  the  Ex- 
pernnent  n.ade  nearly  wrecks,  the  tide  of  ebb  almost  done,  with 
no  prospect  of  lu>lp  from  the  army.  Sir  Peter  Parker  re^,lved 
o  w.tlulran.     At  half-past  nine  his  slups  slipped  their  cables, 
and  dropped  down  wth  the  tide  to  their  previous  moorin-^s 

Of  the  four  Inmdred  and  thirty-five  Americans  in  the^fort 
who  took  part  m  this  action,  all  but  eleven  remained  alive,  and 
but  twen,y.six  were  wounded.  At  so  small  a  cost  of  life  had 
Charleston  been  defended,  and  the  colony  saved. 

^\hen,  after  a  cannonade  of  about  ten  hours,  the  firino- 


'.  tn. ;  cii.  xsv. 


"1,  Lcc>,  on  a 
II  1)01^8  Vir- 
het'oru  iivo, 
iivo,  the  ma- 
-'i^'lit  or  ti'ii 

■  of  the  fort, 

■  to  i'otreat ; 
t  from  Lee. 
u  liot  day'n 
'  noiir.  The 
Inch  he  wiid 

well  liere ; 
ivii  uguiu;" 

nt  doAvu  in 

the  British 

Cliarleston, 

ttery,  could 

I  they  con- 
s  suddenly 
\hen  noth- 
?  ius  it  were 
)usand  sliot 
tree  on  tho 
little  dain- 
•m  the  fort 

•  send  were 
ine  o'clock, 
cannonade 
•n\  the  Ex- 
done,  with 
r  resolved 
oir  cables, 
oorings. 

II  the  fort 
idive,  and 
f  life  had 


the  tiring 


h'ii\i 


1770. 


THE   BATTLE  OF  FoliT  M()i:i;ruiE, 


409 


consed,  the  inimhitantH  of  Charleston  remained  in  suspense,  till 
a  hoiit  IroMi  Moultrie  annouiu-ed  his  victory.  At  niorninir's 
diiwn  the  Acteon  fri-ate  was  sivn  fast  a-rom.d  at  ah.>ut  four 
iMPKlred  yards  from  the  fort.  The  Syren  hi.d  ^n.t  olF,  and  so 
too  Jiad  the  Sphinx,  yet  with  tiic  Iohh  of  her  l.owsprit.  Some 
shots  were  exchan^r,.,),  but  the  cc^npany  of  the  Ac^teon  soon 
set  fire  to  her,  and  deserti^d  her.  Men  from  the  fort  hoarded 
her  while  she  \\;m  hurnin-  pointed  ami  disehar^re,|  tw,,  or  three 
of  her  guns  at  the  commo.lore,  and  loaded  their  three  boats 
from  her  stores.  In  one  half  of  an  hour  after  they  aha'.doned 
her  she  blew  up ;  and,  to  the  eyes  of  the  (Carolinians,  the  niUar 
of  sinoke  over  the;  vessel  toolc  the  form  of  the  palmetto. 

The  P.ristol  Iiad  forty  men  killed  and  seventy-one  wounded 
Knrd  William  Campbell  received  a  contusion  in  his  left  side^ 
of  which,  after  lingering  two  years,  he  died.     Sir  Peter  Parker 
was  slightly  injured.     About  seventy  balls  went  through  his 
ship;  her  mizzen-mast  Avas  so  much  hurt  that  it  fell  early  the 
next  morning;  the  main-mast  was  cut  away  about  fifteen  feet 
below  the  hounds  ;  and  the  broad   pendai'.t  streamed  from  a 
jury-mast  lower  than  the  foremast.    iJut  for  the  stillness  of  the 
sea  she  must  have  gone  down.     On  bt)ard  the  Ivxpcsriment 
tvventy-threo  were  killed  ami  iifty-six  woumled  ;  Scott,  her  cap- 
tain, lost  his  left  ai-m,  and  was  otherwise  severely  wounded ; 
the  ship  was  nmch  damaged,  her  mizzen  gaff  was  shot  away.' 
The  loss  of  the  Hritish  lleet,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  two 
humlred  and  five.     Tiie  royal  governors  of  North  and  of  South 
Carolina,  as  well  as  Clinton  and  CornwalFs  and  seven  regi- 
ments, were  witnesses  of  the  defeat.     The  conmiodore  and  the 
general  long  indulged  in  recijjrocal  crinn'nations.     Nothing  re- 
mained for  the  army  but  to  quit  tlie  sands  of  Long  IshuuCyet 
three  weeks  more  passed  away  before  they  embarked  in  trans- 
p()rts  for  New  York,  umler  the  single  "convoy  of  the  Solebay 
frigate,  the  rest  of  the  fleet  being  under  the  necessity  of  re- 
maim'ng  still  longer  to  refit." 

The  success  of  the  Carolinians  saved  not  a  post,  but  the 
state.  It  kept  seven  regiments  away  fi-oin  New  York  for  two 
months  ;  it  gave  security  to  Ceorgia,  and  three  years'  peace  to 
Carolina ;  it  dispelled  througliout  the  South  the  dread  of  Brit- 
ish superiority ;  it  drove  the  loyalists  into  obscurity.     To  the 


M 


M         ! 


410  AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCK.    ep.  in. ;  on.  xxv. 

other  colonies  it  was  a  message  of  brutlierlicxxl  and  union  from 
buuth  Carohna  ius  a  Helf-directing  rei)nblie. 

On  tlie  morning  of  the  twenty-ninth  Ciuirleston  liarbor 
was  stntltled  with  sails  and  alive  with  the  voices  of  men  lia^ten- 
mg  to  congratulate  the  victors.  They  crowded  round  their 
deliverers  with  transports  of  gratitude;  thev  gazed  on  the  un- 
injured walls  of  the  fortress;  they  enjoye.l  the  sight  of  the 
wreck  of  the  Aeteon,  of  the  discomfited  men-of-war  riding  at 
anchor  at  two  and  a  half  miles'  distance;  they  laughed  at  the 
commodore's  broad  pendant,  scarcely  visible  on  a  jury  main- 
topmast,  whde  their  own  blue  flag  crowned  the  merlon.  Let- 
ters of  congratulation  came  down  from  Kutledge  and  from 
(radsden;  and  Lee  gave  his  witness  that  "no  men  ever  did  or 
could  behave  better." 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  thirtieth  Lee  reviewed  the  garri- 
son,  and  renewed  to  them  the  praise  that  was  their  due.   While 
they  were  thus  drawn  out  the  women  of  Charleston  presented 
to  the  second  regiment  a  pair  of  silken  colors,  one  of  blue,  one 
of  red,  nchly  embroidered  by  their  own  hands ;  and  Susanna 
bmitii  LIhott,  a  scion  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  col- 
ony, who,  being  left  an  orphan,  had  been  brought  up  by  Ee- 
beccii  Brewton  Motte,  stepped  forth  to  the  front  of  the  intrepid 
band  m  matronly  beauty,  young  and  stately,  light-haired,  with 
eyes  of  mild  expression,  and  a  pleasant  countenance,  and,  as 
she  put  the  flags  into  the  hands  of  Moultrie  and  Motte,  she 
said  in  a  low,  sweet  voice :  "  Your  gallant  behavior  in  defence 
ot  liberty  and  your  country  entitles  you  to  the  highest  honoi-s  • 
accept  these  hvo  standards  as  a  reward  justly  due  to  your  regi- 
ment ;  and  I  make  not  the  least  doubt,  under  heaven's  protec- 
tion, you  will  stand  by  them  as  long  as  they  can  wave  in  the 
air  of  liberty."     The  regiment,  plighting  the  Avord  which  they 
were  to  keep  sacredly  at  the  cost  of  many  of  their  lives  an- 
swered: "The  colors  shall  be  honorably  supported,  and  shall 
never  be  tarnished." 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  Kutledge  came  to  visit  the  garrison. 
There  stood  Moultrie,  there  Motte,  there  Marion,  there  Peter 
Horry,  there  William  Jasper,  and  all  survivors  of  the  battle. 
When  Eutledge,  in  the  name  of  South  Carolina,  returned 
thanks  to  the  defenders,  his  burning  words  adequately  ex- 


J      -A 


I. ;  err.  xxv. 
riioii  from 

>ii  harl)oi' 

und  their 
11  the  un- 
it of  tlie 
riding  at 
led  at  the 
iry  niain- 
on.  Let- 
md  from 
xn-  did  or 

the  garri- 
J.   While 
^resented 
blue,  one 
Susanna 
'  the  col- 
p  by  lie- 
intrepid 
•ed,  with 
,  and,  as 
otte,  she 
defence 
honoi-s ; 
our  regi- 
i  protec- 
0  in  the 
ieli  they 
ives,  an- 
nd  shall 


1776. 


TUE  BATTLE  OF  FORT  MOULTRIE. 


411 


])rcssod  tlio  impassioned  gratitude  of  the  people.  To  Jasper 
was  olfered  a  lieutenant's  connnission,  whieh  he  modestly  de- 
chned,  aeceptiiig  only  a  sword. 

South  Carolina,  by  her  president  and  the  common  voice, 
spontaneously  decreed  that  the  post  onSuUivanV  (land  should' 
for  all  future  time,  be  known  as  Fort  Moultrie;  her  assembly 
crowned  her  victorious  sons  with  applause.  The  tidings  leaped 
from  colony  to  colony  on  their  way  to  the  North,  and  the  con- 
tinental congress  voted  their  thanks  to  Lee,  Moultrie,  Thomson, 
and  the  otlicers  and  men  under  their  command.  13  at  the 
time  of  that  vote,  congress  was  no  more  the  represen'  tive  of 
dependent  colonies ;  the  victory  at  Fort  Moultrie  was  the  bright 
morning  star  that  harbingered  American  independence. 


garrison, 
e  Peter 
battle, 
eturned 
•ely  ex- 


i..: 


413         AMERICA  AUMS  FOll  SELF-Di: FENOK. 


ici".  III.;  (11.  XXVI. 


li    ' 


(^IIAITKK   XXVT. 

VTKOINIA    PUOCUAIMS    Till.;    K'KariS    ,)K    MAN     AM)    PKOIVSKS    INDIC- 

I'KNDKNlUC. 

1\[aV-,Ii'N|.;    177(1, 

(>N  tli(>  sixth  ,)f  M:,_v  iortv-tivo  nu-niluM-s  ..f  (1,..  I,o„s(.  „f 
l)uri.vss,.s  .,f  Niroii.ia  ,,.(•(  :,t  (ho  cMpil,,!  i,,  WilliaiMshur.- |,„r- 
.^iiant  to  thoir  iidjounum'.it  ;  l.i.t,  as  tlioy  w.>ro  of  (!„•  o|Tinioi, 
that  (hoimciont  constitutioii  had  h.-on  suhvorlcd  hv  iho  ki„..- 
•>'ul  piirlininont  of  (J.vat  Urifain,  th(>v  dissolw,!  fhrmsdvoH 
""a.uiuously,  and  thus  th(>  last  vcstiov  of  (lu.  khu^^^  aiKhority 
passed  aAvar. 

The  (K-K'n^att's  of  Viro-inia  \vh()  on  (he  same  inoniiiii--  mot 
in  0(.nv(Miti..n  wtMv  a  coiistifuont  and  an  vxcniiho.  Ix.dv."^  Nof, 
less  than  one  luindivd  and  thirtv  in  lunnl.or,  tlu>v  ivpivsontod 
the  oldest  (.f  the  colonios,  whoso  inslilulions  hml  boon  fasli- 
jonod  aftor  fho  nio.Kd  ivcomnu-ndod  l,v  Uacon,  and  whoso 
inhal.itants  for  no;n-Iy  a  hnnd.vd  and  sovonty  yi-:irs  lia.l  main 
tamed  thochnivh  of  Kno^I;,,,,!  as  the  es(:d.lish'ment  of  the  do- 
inmu.n,  and  had  lu-en  heartily  loyal  to  their  kin^-s. 

Its  people,  havin-in  their  ori-in  a  pereeptil.le  hnt  never 
an  exehisive  inlluenee  of  the  eavaliers,  had  sprnn-  mainly  from 
adventnrers,  who  were  not  fnnitiv,.s  for  e..nseien(v'  sake,  or 
snlleriM-s  from  perseention.  The  p.>pn!a(ion  had  been  reernited 
l.y  sueeessive  infiisior.s  of  Se..teh-Irish  I»resl,yterians  ;  Ihi-nt^ 
nots,  and  the  deseei'.dants  of  liu-uenots;  mim  who  had  h.>en 
so  attaehed  to  ('romwell  or  to  the  n-pwhlie  (hat  they  preferred 
to  om.^i,n-ate  on  the  return  of  (M.arles  II.;  Daptist's  an.l  .Xh,,- 
dissenters  ;  an.l  in  the  yalley  of  Vir^nnia  tlu-rc  was  a  yery  lar-o 
Geniuui  [)opulation. 


'  I 


1770. 


TIIK   itUillTH  OF   MAN.     INI)I:I'I':nI)I':NOE 


413 


KUl^ 


TIu^   territory  f(ir  wliidi    \\w   convent 


ion  \v;iM  to  net  coni- 
j)riHe(l  the  o;re:it  l);iy  of  IIk;  CliesapeMke,  witli  ils  eentriil  and 
Hoiitliern  tril»utiirie.s  ;  tlie  beantifiil  v;ill(-vri  on  tlu;  liead  ni)rin"-rt 


of  the   Ivoanoke  and  alon^;  the  Sh(!nandoah  ;  1,1 


le  eoiintry  hcv 


jond  the  mountains,  inchidin<;  tiie  H(»nn'cs  of  the  Monoii<;ahehi 
and  the  (.'iMnherland  riverH  and  (txtendin^-  indelinitcly  to  the 
'renneHseoand  beyond  it.  Nor  that  only  :  Virginia  inHiste<l  thiit 
its  juriiHdiction  stretehed  without  houndH  over  all  the  connlrv 
we.st  and  iiortli-west  oi'  a.  Hne  two  hundred  uiileH  north  ol 
I 


()!( 


onit  Condort,  not  <;iMMt('(|  to  others  by  royal  charterH ;  and 
there  was  no  one  to  dispulo  a  lar<!;(!  part  (tf  this  claim  except 
the  proviiu'c  of  (.Quebec  under  an  act  of  parliament  which  the 
continental  con«;'ress  had  annulled.  !''(»r  all  thin  vast  territory 
— VH'h  in  soil,  precious  niinerais,  lnjalin^  sprini^s,  tun-sts,  con- 
viMiient  marts  I'ur  I'oriH^n  commerce,  iind  f^reat  pathways  to 
the  West,  mor(!  fertile,  mon;  spacious  tliiiii  all  (Ireecc,  Italy, 
and  (Jreat  IJritain,  than  any  re<^'ion  which  had  vvv.r  proposc^d 
to  establish  republican  liberty  —a  constitution  was  to  be  framed. 
The  movement  prociicihid  from  tlu!  he;irt  of  Vir-,dnia  her- 
self, and  repres(>nti;d  the;  ma:i>;naniniity  of  her  whole  pcojile. 
Tim  Anci(!nt  Dominion  had  with  entire  unanimity  approved 
the  clian<rt!  of  dynasty  of  KISS;  ,vith  eipial  unanimity  lind, 
even  more  readily  than  thv!  Mn^lish,  ac<'e|»tcd  the  Ikmisc  (»f 
Hanover,  and  had  been  one  of  tli(!  m(»st  loyal  parts  of  \.\iv.  v.m- 
pire  of  the  (}eoi'n-('s.  Driven  to  the  choice  between  holdiiif^^ 
their  constitutional  rii'-hls  on  snlf-'raiuM!  or  creatiu'-'  a  irovern- 
meut  by  the  peoph;,  Vir^dnia,  with  a  unity  of  spirit,  asked  no 
questions  about  aiwestry  or  creed,  nearness  to  tJu!  se;i  or  to  the 

untains.      When  it  moved,  it  moved  alto<i;ether.     The  story 

of  tlu^  war  comnuMnorates  the  coura^(!  not  of  the  ukmi  of  tJie 
interior  aloiKi;  amoni;'  the  "  inexorabhj  families,"  Dumnoro 
esiu'cially  reported  from  tin;  low  country  tin;  Lees,  and  the 
ianiily  of  Cary  of  Hampton,  of  whom  ev(Mi  tlu!  Histerrf,  mar- 
rit'd  to  a  I^iirfax  and  a  N'icliolas,  cheered  on  their  conne(rtioiis 
to  unrelentin<^  oj)positi(»n.  V'ir^nnia  ros(!  with  as  much  una- 
idnnty  as  Connecjticut  or  Massac! iiis(>tts,  and  with  a  more  com- 
manding rcHolution. 

The  purpose  Utv  w'luch  the  c!!!! vi-ntion  wai=!  a^-:8cm]>1ed  a])- 
))ears  from  the  words  of  the  county  of  Ihickin^jjliam  to  Charles 


f 


i!  (T! 


I    I 


U 


:i,     1 


i  I 


4U         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


Ki".  HI. ;  cii.  XXVI. 


Patte 

to  cause  a  total  and  riiml 


■•son  and  Jo],n  CaheW,  its  dclogates:  "We  instruct 


jou 


place  as 
with  a  full 


separation  from  (Jreat  Britain  to  take 
soon  as  jxKsihK";  and  a  constitution  to  be  establislied 


representation,  and  free  and  fre(pient  elect 


tl 

wisdom  can  contrive  and  tl 
The  county  of  Aufftisti 


le  most  free,  happy,  and  permanent 

le  perfection  of  man  niaintain." 


ions : 


govormnent  tliat  human 


a  r 


•epresented  the  necessity  of  male 


ing  the  confederacy  of  the  united  col 

pendent,  and  lasting;  an  e(pial,  free,  ami  liberal 


tliat 


might  bear  the  test  of  all  futui 


)nies  uiost  perfect,  inde- 
govermneTit, 


■c  ages.     Tlie  inha!)itants 


ot  1  ransylvania  Avei-e  anxious  to  concur  with  their  brethren  of 
the  united  colonies  in  every  measure  for  the  recovei-y  cf  their 
rights  and  liberties. 

The  inhabitanrs  on  the  rivers  Watauga  and  Tlolston  set 
tortli  that  -they  were  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the 
distresses  of  their  American  brethren,  and  Mould,  when  called 
upon,  with  their  lives  and  fortunes,  lend  them  every  assist- 
ance in  their  power  ;  tl u>y  begged  to  l,e  considered  as  a  part  of 
the  colony,  and  w<mld  readily  emlmicc  every  opportunity  of 
obeying  any  commands  from  the  convention." 

^  To   that  body  \vere  chosen   more   than  one  hmulrcd  and 
thirty  of  the  ablest  men  of  Virginia.     Among  them  were  no 
rasli  enthusiasts  for  liberty;  no  lovers  of  revolution  for  the 
sake  (.t  cliange;  they  were   the  choice  of  the  freeholders  of 
V  irgima,  and  the  majority  Avere  men  of  independent  fortune 
or  even  opulence.     It  was  afterward  remembered  that  of  this 
grave  assembly  the  members  Avere  for  the  most  part  men  of 
large  stature  and  robust  frames,  and  that  a  very  great  propor- 
tioii  of  them  lived  to  exceeding  old  age.     Tluy  were  now  to 
decide  whether  Virginia  demanded  independence,  and  would 
estabhsli  a  commonwealth  ;  and  to  move  like  a  pillar  of  tire  in 
front  of  the  whole  country. 

^  When  the  delegates  had  assembled  and  ai)pointed  a  clerk, 
Richard  IJIand  recommeiKk'd  Kdmiind  IVndleton  for  presi- 
dent, and  was  seconded  by  Archibald  Carv  ;  while  Thomas 
-rohnson  of  j.ouisa,  and  liartholomew  Dandridgcs  proposed 
Thomas  Ludwell  Lee.  For  a  moment  there  was  sdnu^thing  like 
an  array  of  ]iarties,  but  it  instantly  subside.l ;  Virginia  showed 
her  greatness  by  her  moderation,  and  gave  new  evitlence  that 


1770.  TMK   PJGIIT.S   OF   MAN.     INDEPEXDEXCE. 


415 


the  revolution  sprung  from  nocos.sity,  hy  placing  in  the  cliair 
Pendleton,   the    most  cautioii.s   and  conservativ.'   amono-   jier 


patriotH,     After  his  election,  1 


le  wrote  to  a  friend :  "  Of  all 


others,  I  own   I  prefer  the  true  l^igjish  constitution,  whicl 


ncli 


proi)er  combination  of  tlie  principles  of  honor 


consists  of 
virtue,  and  feai. 

On  the  lifteenth  Archibald  C'ary,  from  a  eotnmittco  of  the 
whole,  reported  resolutions  which  had  been  (h-afted  by  J*endlo- 
tou,  offered  by  Nelson,  and  enforced  hy  Hemy.  They  were 
then  twice  read  at  the  clerk's  table,  and,  one  hundred  and 
twelve  members  being  present,  were  unanimously  agreed  to. 
The  preamble  enumerated  their  chief  grievances ;  amoiig  others, 
that  the  king's  representative  in  the  colony  was  training  and 
employing  slaves  against  their  masters;  and  they  say : *^' We 
have  no  alternative  left  but  an  abject  submission  or  a  total 
8ei)arati()n;"  therefore  they  went  on  to  decree  "that  their 
delegates  in  congress  be  instructed  to  propose  to  that  ])0(ly  to 
declare  the  united  colonies  free  and  indepemlent  states,  absolved 
from  all  allegiance  or  dependence  upon  the  crown  or  parliament 
of  (Jreat  Britain  ;  and  that  they  give  the  assent  of  this  colony 
to  such  declaration,  and  to  mi'asures  for  forming  foreign  alli- 
ances and  a  confederatioji  of  the  colonies  :  provided  that  the 
power  of  forming  government  for,  and  the  regulation  of  the 
interiud  concerns  of,  each  colony  be  left  to  the  resj)ective  colo- 
nial legislatures." 

This  resolution  was  received  out  of  doors  with  chimes  of 
hells  and  the  noise  of  artillery  ;  and  the  British  flag,  which  had 
thus  far  ke[)t  its  place  on  the  state-house,  was  struck,  to  bo 
raised  no  more. 

^  In  the  following  days  a  committees  of  thirty-two  was  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  declaration  of  rights  and  a  plan  of  gov- 
ernment. Among  the  menil>ers  were  Archibald  Gary ;  TatHck 
llem-y  ;  the  aged  Uichard  P.land  ;  Edmund  Randolph,  son  of 
the  attorney -gi'ueriil,  who  was  then  a  refugee  in  England; 
Nicholas;  ,laines  AFadison,  the  youthful  delegate  from  ()ran<re 
county;  but  iho  one  who  at  tliiit  moment  held  most  sway  over 
the  mind  ()f  tho  convention  was  (Jcorge  Mason,  tlie  successor 
of  Wasliington  in  the  n-prcscntution  of  Fairfax  county.  He 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  church  of  England  ;  and,  by  his 


*! 


tr     i! 


M' 


.1   J 


41G         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFE>fOE.    ep.  hi.  ;  cu.  xxvi. 

own  account  of  liiniself,  « tliongli  not  bom  within  the  veme  of 
tlie  Bi'-Msh  isle,  he  had  been  an  Englishman  in  his  principles  a 
zealous  as,.artor  of  the  act  of  settlement,  tinnlj  attached  to  the 
royal  ianuly  upon  the  throne,  well  affected  to  the  king  person- 
ally and  to  his  government,  in  defence  of  which  he  would  have 
shed  the  last  drop  of  his  blood ;  one  who  adored  the  wisdom 
and  happiness  or  tlie  British  constitution,  and  preferred  it  to 
any  that  then  existed  or  had  ever  existed."     For  ten  years  he 
claimed  nothing  for  his  countrymen  beyond  the  liberty  and 
jn-ivileges  of  Englishmen,  in  the  same  degree  as  if  they  had 
stdl  continued  among  their  brethren  in  Great  Britain  ;  but  he 
said:  "The  ancient  poets,  in  their  elegant  manner  of  expres- 
sion, have  made  a  kind  of  being  of  ^Y-cessitv,  and  tell  us  that 
the  gods  themselves  are  obliged  to  yield  to  her;''  and  he  left 
the  private  life  that  he  loved,  to  assist  in  the  rescue  of  his  coun- 
try from  the  excesses  of  arbitrary  power  to  which  a  soemino- 
fatality  had  driven  the  British  niinistcrs.      He  was   a  good 
speaker  and  an  able  debater,  the  more  eloquent  now  for  bdno- 
touched  with  sorrow;  but  his  great  strength  lay  in  his  sin"^ 
cerity,  which  made  hiin  wise  and  I)old,  modest  and  unchangino- 
while  It  overawed  his  hearers.    He  was  severe,  but  his  severity 
was  humane,  with  no  tinge  of  bitterness,  though  he  had  a  scorn 
for  everything  mean,  cowardly,  or  low  ;  and  he  always  spoke 
out   us  convictions  with  frank  directness.     He  had  been  truly 
loyal ;  on  renouncing  his  king,  he  could  stand  justified  to  his 
own   conscience   only  by  an  unselHsh  attaclnnent  to   human 
freedom. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  -May,  Gary  from  the  committee 
presented  to  the  convention  the  declaration  of  rights  which 
Mason  had  drafted.     For  the  next  fortnight  the  great  traths 
which  it   proclaimed,  and    which  ^vere  to  form  the  ground- 
work of  American  institutions,  employed  the  thoughtrof  the 
convention.     One  clause  only  received  a  material  amendment. 
Mason  had  written  that  all  should  enjoy  the  fullest  toleration 
lu  the  exercise  of  religion.     But  toleration  is  the  demand  of 
the  skeptic  who  has  no  fixed  belief  and  only  wishes  to  be  let 
alone  ;  a  firm  faitii,  which  is  too  easily  tempted  to  establish  it- 
self exclusively,  can  ho  content  with  nothing  less  than  equality. 
A  young  man,  then  unknown  to  fame,  of  bright  hazel  eyes  in- 


1776.  THE  RIGHTS  OF  MAN.     INDEPENDENCE.  417 

dining  to  gray,  small  in  stature,  light  in  person,  delicate  in  ap- 
pearance,  a  pailid,  sickly  scholar  in  an  assembly  of  the  most 
robust  men,  proposed  an  amendment.    He  was  James  IVfadi- 
son,  the  son  of  an  Orange  county  planter,  bred  in  the  school 
of  Presbyterian  dissenters  under  Witherspoon  at  Princeton, 
trained  l)y  his  own  studies,  by  meditative  rural  life  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  by  an  ingenuous  indignation  at  the  persecution  of 
the  Baptists,  and  by  the  innate  principles  of  right,  to  uphold 
the  sanctity  of  religious  freedom.     He  objected  to  the  word 
"  toleration,"  because  it  implied  an  established  religion,  which 
endured  dissent  only  as  a  condescension ;  and,  as  the  earnest- 
ness of  his  convictions  overcame  his  modesty,  ho  proceeded  to 
demonstrate  that  "  all  men  are  equally  entitled  to  the  free  ex- 
ercise of  religion,  according  to  the   dictates  of   conscience!" 
His  motion,  winch  did  but  state  with  better  dialectics  the  very 
purpose  which  Mason  wished  to  accomplish,  obtained  the  suf- 
frages of  his  colleagues.     This  was  the  iirst  achievement  of 
the  wisest  civilian  of  Virginia.     The  declaration,  having  then 
been  fairly  transcribed,  was  on  the  twelfth  of  June  read  a 
third  time,  and  unanimously  adopted. 

These  arc  the  rights  which  they  said  do  pertain  to  them 
and  their  posterity,  as  the  basis  and  foundation  of  govern- 
ment : 

"All  men  are  by  nature  equally  free,  and  have  inherent 
rights,  of  which,  when  they  enter  into  a  state  of  society,  they 
cannot,  by  any  compact,  deprive  or  divest  their  posterity; 
namely,  the  enjoyment  of  life  and  liberty,  with  the  means  of 
ac(piiring  and  possessing  property,  and  pursuing  and  obtaining 
ha])piness  and  safety. 

"All  power  is  vested  in,  and  C()ni;equently  derived  from, 
the  people  ;  magistrates  are  their  trustees  and  servants,  and  at 
all  times  amenable  to  them. 

"Government  is,  or  ought  to  ])e,  instituted  for  the  common 
bcnetit  and  security  of  the  people,  natidii,  or  community  ;  and, 
M'henever  any  government  shall  be  found  ina(le(piatc  or  con- 
trary to  these  purposes,  a  majority  of  tlie  community  hath  an 
indubitable,  unalienable,  and  indefeasible  right  to  reform,  al- 
ter, or  abolish  it,  in  such  a  mauuer  as  shall  bo  judged  most  con- 
ducive to  the  pul)lic  weal. 

vor-.  IV. — 27 


.'1 


418        AMEPJCA  AILMS  FOK  SELF-DEFENCK. 


EP.  III. ;  en.  XXVI. 


t-:i 


II 


"m 


rj  -;     (' 


"Piil)lic  services  not  hciw^  descendiMe,  neither  onglit  the 
offices  of  nia<,nstrate,  leojislutor,  or  judge  to  he  liereditary. 

"  Tlie  legishitive  and  executive  i)o\vers  of  tlie  state  sliould 
be  separate  and  distinct  from  the  judicative :  the  members  of 
the  two  lirst  shonld,  at  lixed  periods,  return  into  tliat  body 
from  whicli  they  Avere  originally  taken,  and  the  vacancies  be 
snpphed  by  fre(pieut,  certain,  and  regular  elections. 

"  Elections  of  members  to  serve  as  representatives  of  the 
I)eople  in  assembly  ought  to  be  free;  and  all  men,  having  suffi- 
cient evidence  of  i)ermanent  connnou  interest  with,  and  fittach- 
ment  to,  the  community,  have  the  right  of  suffrage,  and  cannot 
be  taxed  or  deprived  of  their  property  for  public  uses  without 
their  own  consent  or  tiiat  of  their  representative  so  elected, 
nor  bonud  l)y  any  law  to  which  they  have  i.  )t,  in  like  manner' 
assented  for  the  public  good.  ' 

"  There  ought  to  l)e  no  arbitrary  power  of  snsponch'ug  laws 
no  requirement  of  excessive  bail,  no  grauting  of  general  war- 
rants, 

"  No  man  ongbt  to  be  dei)rived  of  libertv,  except  by  the 
law  of  the  land  or  the  judgment  of  his  peers; 'and  the  ancient 
trial  by  jury  ought  to  be  held  sacred. 

_"  The  freedom  of  the  press  is  one  of  the  greatest  bulwarks 
of  liberty,  and  can  never  be  restrained  but  by  des.xjtic  ffovem- 
nients.  '^ 

"A  well-regulated  militia,  composed  of  the  body  of  the 
people,  tramed  to  arm.,  is  the  proper,  natm-al,  and  safe  defence 
ot  a  tree  state;  standing  armies  in  time  of  peace  should  be 
avoided  as  dangerous  to  liberty;  and  in  all  cases  the  military 
should  be  under  strict  subordination  to  the  civil  ].ower 

"The  people  have  a  right  to  uniform  government;  and, 
theretore,  no  government  separate  from  or  independent  of  the 
government  of  Vii^inia  ought  to  be  erected  or  established 
withm  the  linuts  thereof. 

"  No  free  governnu.nt  can  be  i>reserved  but  b.  a  firm  ad- 
herence to  justice,  moderation,  temperance,  frugality,  and  vir- 
tue,^and  by  frecpient  recurrence  to  fundamental  principles. 

Rehgum  can  be  directed  only  by  reason  and  conviction, 
not  by  force  or  violence;  and,  th.-refore,  al!  m..  are  e(unllv 
entitled  to  the  free  exercise  of  it,  according  to  the  dictates  of 


'V 


irro. 


THE  RIGHTS  OF  MAN.     INnKrE>^DEXCE. 


419 


conscionec  ;  aiul  it  is  tlic  mutual  duty  of  all  to  ])ra('ticc  Chris- 
tian forbearaiice,  love,  aud  charity  toward  ca(^h  otlier." 

Other  colonies  had  framed  hills  of  ri^jjhts  in  reference  to 
their  relations  with  Britain;  Vir-^inia  moved  from  charters  and 
customs  to  ])r;mal  principles;  from  the  altercation  about  facts 
to  the  contemplation  of  innuntahle  truth.  She  sinnmoned  the 
eternal  laws  of  man's  being  to  protest  against  all  tyr;inny.  The 
English  petition  of  right  in  1(188  was  historic  and  retrospect- 
ive ;  the  Virginia  declaration  came  out  of  the  heart  of  nature, 
and  antiounced  governing  princii:les  for  all  peoples  in  all  time. 
It  was  the  voice  of  reason  going  forth  to  speak  a  new  political 
world  into  being.  At  the  bar  of  humanity  Virginia  gave  the 
name  and  fame  of  her  sons  as  hostages  that  her  ])Hhlic  life 
should  show  a  likeness  to  the  highest  ideas  of  right  and  equal 
freedom  amoiig  men. 

"While  Virginia  connmniicated  to  her  sister  colonics  her 
instruction  to  her  delegates  in  congress  to  propose  indepen- 
dence, AV^ashington  at  New  York  freely  and  repeatedly  deliv- 
ered his  opinion:  "  A  reconciliation  with  (Jreat  Hritain  is  im- 
practicable, and  woidd  bo  in  the  highest  degree;  deti-imental  to 
the  tme  interest  of  America.  Nothing  but  independence  will 
sav^c  us."  The  ])reaml)le  and  the  resolve  of  congress,  adopted 
at  Philadelphia  on  the  same  day  witli  the  Virginia  instructions 
at  Williamsburg,  were  in  themselves  the  act  of  a  self-determin- 
ing poli^.ical  body.  The  blow  which  proceeded  from  the  gen- 
eral congress  felled  the  ]>ro])rietary  authority  in  Pennsylvania 
and  l\laryland.  Maryland,  nion;  ''"'^PPy  than  her  neighbor, 
kei)t  her  ranks  unbroken  ;  for  she  had  intrusted  the  direction 
of  the  revolution  to  a  convention  whose  decrees  were  received 
as  indis[)utably  the  voice  of  her  whole  people.  She  had  dis- 
l)ensed  with  oaths  for  the  support  of  the  government  under 
the  crown;  but  she  resolved  that  it  was  noc  necessary  to  sup- 
press totally  the  exercise  of  every  kind  of  office  dei'ived  from 
the  king;  and  in  her  new  instructions  to  her  delegates  in  con- 
gress she  nii.\(>d  with  her  i)ledges  of  support  to  the  connnon 
cause  a  lingering  wish  for  a  reunion  with  (treat  llritain. 
IVFeanwhile,  the  governor  was  recpiired  to  leave  the  province  ; 
and  the  only  powers  actually  in  being  were  the  deputies  in 
congress,  the  council  of  safety,  and  the  convention. 


■11 


t 


420         AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE.    ep.  in. ;  on.  xxvi. 

In  Pennsylvania,  tlie  preamble,  wliicli  was  published  on 
the  niormng  of  the  sixteenth,  was  cited  by  the  popular  party 
as  a  dissolution  of  the  proprietary  government,  and  a  direction 
to  institute  a  new  one  under  the  authority  of  the  people.     On 
the  next  day,  which  was  kept  as  a  national  fast,  Georo-o  Duf- 
field,  the  minister  of  the  third  Presbyterian  church  in  Phila- 
delphia, with  John  Adams  for  a  listener,  drew  a  parallel  be- 
tween George  III.  and  Pharaoh,  and  inferred  that  the  same 
providence  of  God  which  had  rescued  the  Israelites  designed 
to  free  the  Americans.     On  the  twenty-fourth  a  town-meetin- 
of  more  than  four  thousand  men  was  held  in  the  state-house 
yard,  to  confront  the  instructions  of  the  assembly  against  inde- 
pendence with  the  vote  of  the  continental  congress  against 
"  oaths  of  allegiance  and  the  exercise  of  any  kind  of  authority 
under  the  crown."    It  was  called  to  order  by  John  Bayard,  the 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  inspection  for  the  county  of 
Philadelphia  ;  it  selected  for  its  president  Daniel  Koberdeau  • 
and  It  voted  unanimously  that  the  insti-uctions  withdrew  the 
province  from  the  happy  union  with  the  other  colonies ;  that 
the  present  assembly  was  not  elected  for  the  jmrpose  of  form- 
ing a  new  govenmient;  and,  witl    i.ut  one  dissentient  voice,  it 
further  voted  that  the  house  of  assembly,  not  having  the  au- 
thority of  the  pc  pie  for  that  purpose,  could  not    without 
usurpation,  proceed  to  form  a  new  government.     As  a  conse- 
quence, the  committee  of  the  city  and  liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia was   du-ected  to  summon  a  conference  of  the  commit- 
tees  of  every  county  in  the  province,  to  make  arrangements 
tor  a  constituent  convention,  which  should  be  chosen  by  the 
people. 

Any  agreement  which  the  proprietaiy  governor  ^v•ould  ac- 
cept could  be  no  better  than  a  collusion,  for,  by  the  very  nature 
of  his  office  and  his  interests,  he  could  not  stand  out  against 
the  British  ministry,  however  much  they  might  be  in  the 
wrong.  The  members  of  the  assembly,  by  taking  the  oath  or 
affirmation  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  had  incapacitated  them- 
selves for  reforming  the  government.  Besides,  the  resolve 
in  congress,  which  dispensed  in  all  cases  with  that  oath,  was 
interpreted  as  conferring  the  rights  of  elecioi-s  on  the  Ger- 
mans vyho  had  not  yet  been  naturalized ;  so  that  the  assembly 


1776. 


THE  KIGIITS  OF  MAN.     INDEPENDENCE. 


421 


no  longer  could  claim  to  be  tLe  representative  of  tlie  people 
of  Pennsylvania. 

It  was  unliuppy  for  tlio  colony  that  Dickinson  and  liis 
friends  refused  to  lead  the  popular  movement  for  a  conven- 
tion ;  and,  at  a  later  day,  he  owned  "  tlio  national  comicil,"  as 
he  styled  congress,  "  to  have  been  right."  His  persistent  op- 
];^osition  left  the  princijile  of  independence  in  Pennsylvania  to 
he  established  by  a  political  party,  springing  spontaneously 
from  the  ranks  of  the  people,  struggling  against  an  active 
social  influence,  a  numerous  religious  organization,  and  the 
traditional  governing  classes,  and  rending  society  by  angry  and 
lonjr  endurinsr  discord. 

The  assembly  stood  adjourned  to  the  twentieth;  on  the 
morning  of  the  twenty-second  a  quorum  appeared,  and,  as  a 
first  concession  to  the  continental  congress,  the  newly  elected 
members  were  not  required  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  king. 
The  protest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and  liberties  against 
their  powers  to  carry  the  resolve  of  congress  into  execution 
was  presented,  read,  and  laid  on  the  table ;  but  no  other  notice 
was  taken  of  it.  The  resolve  itself  was  set  aside  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  connnittee  to  ask  of  the  continental  congress 
an  explanation  of  its  purpose.  The  proposal  to  naturalize  for- 
eigners without  ro(}uiring  oaths  of  allegiance  to  the  king  was, 
in  like  manner,  ])ut  to  sleep  by  a  reference  to  a  committee, 
composed  of  those  who  had  most  earnestly  contested  the  wishes 
of  the  Germans.  The  assembly  seemed  to  have  no  purpose, 
unless  to  gain  time  and  wait.  The  constitution  was  the  Avatch- 
word  of  the  conservative  members,  union  that  of  the  new 
party  of  the  people  who  condemned  the  conduct  of  the  as- 
sembly as  a  withdrawal  from  the  union.  One  party  repre- 
sented old  established  interests,  another  saw  no  hope  but  from 
independence  and  a  firm  confederation  ;  between  these  two 
stood  Dickinson,  whose  central  position  was  the  hiding-place 
of  the  irresolute. 

On  the  twenty-third  an  address,  clainnng  to  ]-)rocced  from 
the  committee  of  insjiection  for  the  county  of  Philadelphia, 
and  bearing  the  name  of  William  Hamilton  as  chairman,  asked 
the  assembly  to  "  adhere  religiously  to  its  instructions  against 
independence,  and  to  oppose  altering  the  least  part  of  their  in- 


\n 


H 


422         AMERICA  AUMS  FOII  SELF-DEFENCE,    uv.  in. ;  c...  xxvi. 

vulnal)lo  constitution."    Tlic  next  day  the  committee  of  inspec- 
tion of  the  city  of  Philadelphia  came  to-ether  with  Mackean 
as  chairman,  and  addressed  a  memorial  to  the  continental  con- 
gress, setting  forth  that  the  assend>ly  did  not  possess  the  confi- 
dence of  the  i)eoplo,  nor  truly  represent  the  province ;  that 
among  its  members  were  men  who  lieldotKces  under  the  crown 
of  Great  Britain,  and  who  had  been  dragged  into  compliance 
with  most  of  the  recommendations  of  congress  only  from  the 
fear  of  being  superseded  by  a  cmvention  ;  that  measures  for 
assembling  a  convention  of  the  people  had  now  been  taken  by 
men  whose  constituents  were  lighting  men,  determined  to  sup- 
port the  union  of  the  proA'ince  with  the  other  colonies  at  every 
hazard.  "^ 

The  membei-s  of  the  assembly  became  uneasy :  in  the  first 
days  of  June  no  quorum  appeared.  On  the  fifth  the  proceed- 
ings of  Virginia,  directing  her  delegates  to  propose  indepen- 
dence, were  read  in  the  house.  Ko  answer  was  returned ;  but 
a  petition  from  Cumberland  county,  asking  that  the  instruc- 
tions to  the  delegates  of  Pennsylvania  might  be  withdrawn, 
was  read  a  second  time,  and  a  commitfee  of  seven  was  ap- 
pointed to  bring  in  new  instnictions.  Of  its  members,  amowr 
whom  were  Dickinson,  Morris,  Reed,  Clymer,  and  one  or  two 
loyalists,  all  but  Clymer  were,  for  the  present,  opposed  to  in- 
dependence. 

The  instructions  of  Pennsylvania,  which  they  reported  on 
the  sixth,  conceded  "that  all  hoix-s  of  a  reconciliation,  on  rea- 
sonable terms,  were  extinguished;"  and  nevertlieless,  with  a 
full  knowledge  that  the  king  would  not  yield,  they  expressed 
their  ardent  desire  for  an  end  of  the  civil  ^var;  while  they 
sanctioned  a  confederation  and  "  treaties  with  foreign  king- 
doms and  states,"  they  neither  advised  nor  forbade  a  declart 
tion  of  independence,  trusting  to  "the  ability,  prudence,  and 
integrity"  of  their  delegates.     Ts^ow  the  opinion  of  the  ma- 
jority of  those  delegates  was  notorious ;  but,  to  remove  even  a 
possibility  of  uncertainty,  on  the  seventh  of  June,  before  the 
question  on  the  new  instructions  was  taken,  Dickinson,  in  the 
assembly,  pledged  his  word  that  he  and  the  majority  of  the 
delegates  would  continue  to  vote  against  independence. 

On  that  same  day,  and  perhaps  while  Dickinson  was  speak- 


'    ,1. 


1770. 


THE  IlIGIITS  OF  MAN.    INDEPENDENCE. 


428 


ing  in  tlic  Pennsylvania  asscmLly,  Kicliard  ITcnry  Lcc,  in  the 
name  and  witli  the  autliority  of  Virginia,  i)r()i)<)sed  ih  congresK: 
"  That  those  united  colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free 
and  independent  states ;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  alle- 
giance to  the  Uritish  crown,  and  that  all  political  connection 
between  them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to 
be,  totally  dissolved ;  that  it  is  expedient  forthwith  to  take  the 
most  eifectual  measures  for  forming  foreign  alliances ;  and 
that  a  plan  of  confederation  be  prei)ared,  and  transmitted  to 
the  respective  colonies  for  their  consideration  and  approbation." 
The  resolutions  were  seconded  by  John  Adams. 

At  nine  in  the  morning  of  the  eighth  of  June  the  assembly 
of  Pennsylvania,  after  debate,  adoj)ted  its  new  instnictions  by 
a  vote  of  thirty-one  against  twelve.  The  disingenuous  measure 
proved  the  end  of  that  body ;  never  but  once  more  could  it 
bring  together  a  (juorum  of  its  members ;  and  it  entailed  on 
their  state  years  of  bitter  strife. 

At  ten  on  the  same  day  congress  took  up  Picliard  ITenry 
Lee's  resolve,  and  the  debate  which  ensued  was  the  most  copious 
and  the  most  animated  ever  held  on  the  subject.  The  argu- 
ment on  the  part  of  its  o]>ponents  was  sustained  by  Robert 
Livingston  of  New  York,  by  "Wilson,  Dickinson,  and  Edward 
Rutledge.  They  made  no  ol)jection  to  a  confederacy,  and  to 
sending  a  project  of  a  treaty  by  proper  persons  to  France ;  but 
they  contended  that  a  declaration  of  independence  would  place 
America  in  the  power  of  the  British,  with  whom  she  was  to 
negotiate ;  give  her  enemy  notice  to  counteract  her  intentions 
before  she  had  taken  steps  to  carry  tliem  into  execution ;  and 
exj30se  her  to  ridicule  in  the  eyes  of  foreign  powers  by  pre- 
mature attempts  to  bring  th'^m  into  an  alliance.  Edward  llut- 
ledge  said  privately  "  that  it  required  the  impudence  of  a  New 
Englander  for  them  in  their  disjointed  state  to  propose  a 
treaty  to  a  nation  now  at  peace;  that  no  reason  could  bo 
assigned  for  pressing  into  this  measure  but  the  reason  of  every 
madman,  a  show  of  spirit."  Wilson  avowed  that  the  removal 
of  the  restriction  on  his  vote  by  the  Pennsylvania  assembly  on 
that  morning  did  not  change  his  view  of  his  obligation  to 
resist  independence.  On  the  other  hand,  Lee  and  Wythe  of 
Virginia  put  forth  all  their  strength  to  show  that  the  people 


■  n 


Ir    I 


I  H 


M     I 
i"     ' 


(i 


Liil 


i'  i 


424        AMERICA  AltltS  Foil  SELF-  DEFENCE,    ep.  ,„. ;  o„.  xj„. 

waited  only  for  cm.gros,  to  lead  the  way;  tl.at  tlicy  <K.«M 
;.  ..n,ned,ate  declaration  of  independet.oo  witl.o,,.  with  ,!o 
turopea,,  power  eould  give  .I.elter  to  ti.eir  eo,„„u.,«orc, 
ff«o  w,.U  the,,,  in  a  t,«ty  of  alliance.  John  A<kn,;  defeml  , 
the  propose,!  n.oas.n^s  an  "ol.jcct.  of  the  most  rtupendom 
n,a«n,t„de„,  ,vhieh  the  lives  and  liherties  of  „,illion!'y et  J 
revohui"'  ',',""""'"?■  """'••"^'';"  -  '1-  eon»„„„„,.,i„,ff.of  , 
nit  the      ,        .  "'"•"'"""■'  ""-^1>''^'«I.  -"1  .-cnarkablo  of 

ami  of  C  "'^  ""':"""  '"'"  '"'"■•'  "'  ^'"  ^'"v  England 
and  of  Geo,-g,a  we,-e  raised  on  tl,e  sa.ue  side.  A  maion'y  of 
the  coloiues,  incliul  ii<r  Xnvth  n....  i-  /    "iujunij  oi 

ablv  fivp,l  In  !  ,^  ^^"f^^  Curohua,  appeared  to  be  unaltor- 

P.  I    r  *  ''^  "''  innnediate  declaration  of  iudepend- 

court  of  VirnTT"^'  ^  ^^'^'^'  *^"'  ^^'^^^^^^  "^"^^'^^-  '^t  tlfe 
court  o±  \  ,enna,  chanced  to  obtain  an  audience  of  JoscdIi  U 
and  afterwan    of  the  eium-p'^fl  AF..,.;.,  Ti  "|  'Jo*'ei)n  ii., 

reform,!  ir.  .1  ,  eiupiess  .Alana  llieresa.     Tlie  emperor 

refened  to  the  proclamation  which  the  joint  sovereio-ns  had 

StsTV'r'V"'^'''"-^  ''''  ^^•"---  between  their 
^ibject.  ui  tbe  Low  Countries  and  the  rebel  colonies  in  Amer- 
ica, and  went  on  to  say :  "  1  am  very  sorry  for  the  difficiS 
wlnc^jave  arisen  to  d.tress  the  kin^  govinnn.;";: 

Ill  wiucn  lie  IS  eziiTa'i^od  iq  m  ■f^^n^■  +i>^  «  j?     n 

+•      ii       ,         ^"o''»'-u  IS  in  laet  tJie  cause  of  all  sovereio-na 

lo    they  have  a  joint  into.ost  in  tl,e  n,ai„tcna„ee  of  a  fit 

8nbo,-d,„at,on  and  obedience  to  law  in  all  the  ,„ona,-cl,ie8  wlS 

nrronndthcn;  I  see  with  pleas„,.e  the  vigorons "^   ,      "of 

he  nat,onal  strength,  which  he  is  now  e,„p1„,-i„g  to  b  71,1 

^  e.pre.ed  a  very  I,::  ^.e  ^  ZZS^ot 
d.enco  and  trancjnillity  to  eve,y  ,„a,ter  of  the  B..itish  del- 

witll!nn!!'h   '"T!-  "'^  ™  ^^""■"J"'  '''l"™'  K""«te 
ho,  Id  <"<I'«*»"on  of  success,  moved  that  the  cmesti™ 

£i„  t,"    ,°f f "■•■'*'™  »"<I  "f  t,..atics  might  he  ,nat„red. 
Ag.,m  the  debate  was  kept  np  nntil  seven  in  tho  evenin.. 

of  anot- ,1T  Ir"'"'  ';""'"""^'  "■'"  "'"  -«->     S 

t! ..,"  e  J  It,,     T  1  °*  *'"'  '="'"■'"  ""'""'-  '»  <=«"-" 
eon.,,a,ents,  indnced  seven  colonies  against  five  to  assent 


:^x' 


1770. 


THE   KIGIITS  OF  MAX.     INDEPENDENCE. 


425 


to  the  delay,  but  with  the  fiirtlier  condition  that,  to  prevent 
any  loss  of  tin^e,  a  connnittee  should  in  tlie  meanwhile  pre- 
pare a  declaration  in  harmony  with  the  i)ro])(jsed  resolution. 
On  the  next  day  Jeiferson,  John  Adams,  Franklin,  Slierman, 
and  Kobert  E.  Livingston  were  chosen  by  ballot  for  that  office. 

On  the  twelfth  the  duty  of  digesting  the  form  of  a  con- 
federation wan  assigned  to  one  member  from  t>ach  colony ;  and, 
as  if  the  subject  had  not  been  of  trauhcendent  importance, 
their  appointment  was  left  to  the  presiding  officer.  Among 
those  whom  Hancock  selected  are  found  the  names  of  Samuel 
Adams,  Dickinson,  and  Edward  Ilutledge  ;  it  could  have  been 
wished  that  the  two  Adamses  had  changed  places,  tliough 
probably  the  result  would  at  that  time  have  been  the  same ;  no 
one  man  had  done  so  nuu-h  to  bring  about  indei)endence  as  the 
elder  Adams,  but  his  skill  in  constructing  governments,  not  his 
knowledge  of  the  princii)]es  of  freedom,  Avas  less  remarkable 
than  that  of  his  younger  kinsman.  In  the  committee,  Dick- 
inson, wdio,  as  an  opponent  of  independence,  c  u  J  promote 
only  a  temporary  constitution,  assumed  the  task  of  drafting 
the  great  charter  of  union. 

The  preparation  of  a  plan  of  ti-catics  with  foreign  powers 
was  intrusted  by  ballot  to  Dickinson,  Franklin,  John  Adams, 
Harrison,  and  Robert  Morris  ;  and  between  John  Adams  and 
Dickinson  there  was  no  difference  of  opinion,  that  the  scheme 
to  be  i>roposed  should  be  confined  to  commerce,  without  any 
grant  of  exclusive  privileges,  and  without  any  entanglement 
of  a  political  connection  or  alliance. 

On  the  thirteenth  a  board  of  war,  of  which  Washington 
liad  explained  the  extreme  necessity,  Avas  appointed,  and  John 
Adams  was  placed  at  its  head. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  congress  "  resolved,  that  all  pers'^ns 
abiding  within  any  of  the  united  colonies,  and  deriving  pro- 
tection from  its  laws,  owe  allegiance  to  the  said  laws,  and  are 
members  of  such  colony  ;"  and  it  charged  the  guilt  of  treason 
ujion  "  all  members  of  any  of  the  united  colonies  who  should 
be  adherent  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  giving  to  him  "id 
and  comfort."  The  fellow-subjects  of  one  king  became  fellow- 
lieges  of  one  republic.  They  all  had  one  law  of  citizenship 
and  one  law  of  treason. 


42G 


AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  iii.  ;  en.  sxtii. 


:l  ' 


rJi 


(    '     / 


CIIAPTErt  XXYII. 

THE   PEOPLE   OF    EVEP.Y    A:MERICAN    COLONY    DEMAND 
I^'DEPENDE^X'E. 

June- Jul  r  1T7G. 

A^^ERICAN  independence  Avas  not  an  act  of  sudden  passion, 
nor  the  work  of  one  man  or  one  assemblj.     It  liad  been  dis- 
cussed in  every  part  of  the  conntry  by  farmers  and  morcliants, 
by  mechanics  and  planters,  by  tlio  lisliermen  and  tiie  back- 
woodsmen ;  in  town-meetings  and  from  tlie  pul])it ;  at  social 
gatherings  and  around  the  camp  fires ;  in  newspapers  and  in 
pamphlets;   in  county  conventions  and  conferences  of  com- 
mittees ;  in  colonial  congresses  and  assendJies.     The  decision 
was  put  off  oidy  to  ascertain  the  voice  of  the  pooi)le.   Virginia, 
having  uttered  her  will,  and  comnmnicated  it  to  her  sistei^colo- 
nies,  proceeded,  as  though  independence  had  been  proclaimed, 
to  form  her  constitution.     More  counsellors  waited  on  her  as- 
sembly uian  they  took  notice  of :   they  were  aided  in  tlieir 
deliberations  by  the  teachings  of  the  law-givei-s  of  (Ixeece;  by 
the  hno  of  magistrates  who  had   framed  tho  Eoman  code;  by 
those  who  had  written  best  in  English  on  government  and  pub- 
lic freedom.     They  i)assed  by  monarchy  and  hereditary  aris- 
tocracy as  unessential  forms,  and  looked  for  the  self-sub'sistent 
elements  of  liberty. 

The  ])rinciples  of  the  Virginia  declaration  of  rights  re- 
mained to  her  ])e()ple  as  a  ])erpetual  ])ossession,  and  a  nledgc 
of  progress  in  more  tranquil  (hy:^-  but  for  the  moment  inter- 
nal reforms  ^rere  jiostponed.  The  elective  franchise  was  not 
exterded,  nor  was  anyl-hing  done  to  abolish  slavery  beyond 
the  prohibition  of  the  slave-trade.     The  king  of  England  pos- 


1776.       EVERY  COLONY  DEMANDS  INDEPENDENCE.         427 

sessed  the  crown  by  birth  and  for  life ;  the  vhief  executive  of 
Virginia  owed  his  place  to  an  election  by  the  general  assembly, 
and  retained  it  for  one  year.  The  king  was  intrusted  with  a 
veto  power,  limited  within  Britain,  extravagant  and  even  retro- 
spective in  the  colonies  ;  the  recollection  that  "  by  an  inhuman 
use  of  his  negative  he  had  refused  them  permission  to  exclude 
negroes  by  law "  misled  the  Virginians  to  withold  the  veto 
power  from  the  governor  of  their  own  choice. 

The  governor,  like  the  king,  had  at  his  side  a  pnvy  coun- 
cil ;  and,  in  the  construction  of  this  body  of  eight  men,  the 
desire  for  some  permanent  element  of  government  is  conspicu- 
ous. Braxton,  in  the  scheme  which  he  forwarded  from  con- 
gress, would  have  had  the  governor  continue  in  authority 
during  good  behavior,  the  council  of  state  during  life.  But 
Patridc  Henry,  Mason,  and  the  other  chief  meuibcrs  of  the 
convention,  did  not  share  this  dread  of  the  power  of  the  peo- 
ple ;  and  nothing  more  was  conceded  than  that  two  only  of  the 
eight  councillors  should  be  triennially  changed,  so  that  the 
body  would  be  completely  renewed  once  in  the  course  of  twelve 
years.  The  governor,  Mith  their  advice,  had  the  appointment 
of  militia  officers  and  of  justices  of  the  peace  ;  but  the  gen- 
eral assembly  by  joint  ballot  elected  the  treasurer,  the  judges, 
and  the  o.hcers  of  the  higher  courts.  The  general  assembly, 
like  the  British  parliament,  consisted  of  two  branches,  an  an- 
nual house  of  delegates  and  a  senate  of  twenty-four  members, 
to  be  chosen  fron'i  as  many  district^,  and  to  be  renewed  one 
fourth  in  each  year. 

The  convention  recognised  the  territorial  rights  of  Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania,  and  the  Carolinas,  and  the  limit  set  by  the 
peace  of  lT*(i;> ;  otherwise  it  claimed  jurisdiction  over  all  the 
region,  granted  by  the  second  charter  of  King  James  I.  The 
privilege  of  purchasing  Indian  titk'S  was  reservi'd  to  the  state  ; 
but  a  right  of  pre-emption  was  secured  to  actual  settlers  on  un- 
appropriated lands. 

In  framing  the  constitution,  George  Mason  was  aided  by 
Iliehard  Henry  Lee  and  (reorgo  Wythe;  a  form  of  govern- 
ment, sent  by  Jetferson,  arrived  too  late ;  but  his  draft  of  a 
p..p;i,„l,],.  v.-as  adopted.  AMrginia  became  a  repul)lic.  The  con- 
vention, having  on   the   twenty-mnth  of  June  unanhuously 


42S        AMKUIOA  ARMS  KtUi  SKl.l-    PKFKNOi:. 


Ki-  m. ;  III.  \  wii. 


In  :' 


i.      l! 


rtiloptod  tho  ooustitutiou,  tniiist'oniu^l  itst>U"  iiitt*  a  toiupomrv 
^viuM-al  assomhlv,  ami  iiuulo  i-Uo'w,^  h\  l.alli.t  of  a  i;\>vi«nn.r  aiul 
a  \m\\  I'oim.-il.  VMv'wk  Ih'tirv  bvvamo  tlu^  cliirl"  mai;iKtrato 
in  tho  i'(>!iuiu.invi«altli  wliu-h.  ho  said,  had  ju.st  foniunl  "a  svs- 
tom  of  uovrnunoiit  \visi«Iv  t'aU'ulatvHl  to  scomv  tMnial  tilu<rtv," 
aiul  to  talvo  a  [>riiu-iiial  part  in  a  war  "  iiiv..lviii-  ilio  liustiii^- 
liai)[>iiu>ss  i>f  a  un^it  pfoportion  of  tlio  Imniaii  sptvios."  "If 
(iooi-uv  111.,"  wrote  Fox,  "should  for  a  monuMit  n.nipan*  liim- 
8olf  to  I'atrii'k  lliMirv,  how  hiimiliali'd  ho  must  Ik'!" 

On  tho  foiirtoonth  of  Juno,  Connofticiit,  iirj-vd  l.v  th(^  in- 
yitatitin  and  oxanipio  oi'  N'irolnia,  instnictotl  its  dolooativs  iu 
favor  o(  iiuh-pi«ndoniv,  foroi^u  allianoi's,  and  a  ponnanont 
iiiiiou  of  tho  colonios;  hut  tho  plan  of  confodoration  was  not 
to  o'o  into  otl\vt  till  it  should  n'i-i-ivi>  tho  as.sont  o(  tlu>  s.>voral 
loi>islatinvs.  That  {•iirilan  coinnioiiwoalth,  which  ha<l  in  fad, 
onjovod  a  ropuhlican  p)Vornniont  nioro  than  a  hinuhvd  vours, 
then  lirst  condiii'totl  its  administration  in  its  own  nanio, 

On  tho  sanu*  dav  and  fho  iu>xt  tho  I  K^lawan^issondilv,  at 
tiio  instanct"  of  Maokoan.  unanimonsiv  appro\od  liio  rosoliltioii 
of  c'o.-ip\>ss  oi'  tho  tiftoonth  of  Mav.  o\  i-rlnriiod  tho  pn^prio- 
taryiJ:*»vonnui-nt  within  hor  hordorn,  suhstitulod  horown  nanio 
(»n  all  oirasions  for  that  of  the  kiui^-,  an«l  ^ivo  to  ii,.f  doio^-ah^s 
now  instnu'lions  which  loft  thorn  at  lihci-tv  to  voto  rospiriin^^ 
indopondonco  a('cordin<>-  to  llioir   jud^^inont. 

On  tlio  liftoonth  liu>  council  and  asstMn!)ly  of  N(«\v  Hamp- 
shire, in  r(>ph'  to  a  K'ttor  fnan  Uarllctt  and  Whipple,  Ihoir 
•  lolooatos  in  con^n-oss,  tmatiimoiislv  voted  in  favor  of  "declar- 
in^MhiHhirleen  united  col(»nies  a  free  and  indcpcn.lont  Htatr ; 
and  solemidy  pled-vd  iheir  faith  and  honor  to  support  tho 
measure  with  their  lives  and  fortimes." 

On  th.i  lirst  (lav  (»f  May  I  TTt;,  .loseph  llawley  wrote  to 
Klhrid.ov  (ierry  Ii:  congress:  "Tli(<re  will  ho  ii(»  ahiiliuf^  mdon 
without  a  declaration  of  indepen(|(nic(^  and  a  course  of  conduct 
on  that  plan.  My  hand  and  heart  are  f,dl  of  it.  Will  a,  j^ovorn- 
ment  stand  on  recomnuMidalions  ^  It  is  idle  to  suppose  no.  Nay, 
without  a.  real  continental  i-'overnment,  p(M»ple  will,  hy  and  hy, 
sooner  than  you  ma.,  he  aware  of,  call  for  their  oldConKtitii' 
tions  ;w  they  did  in  Kn,n|and  after  Oroniwcirri  death.  l''or 
(Jod's  8akc!  let  thcro  l»u  ii  full  revolution,  or  all  liaH  hecii  dono 


'^t(^ 


1770.        KVKItY    ("1>H>NV    t>KM.\NI>s   INI>K1'ICN1>KN(MC. 


m) 


o  111- 


iii  vuin,    liult'poiulonco  und  ti  wiOl  pliiimotl  o(>i»tim«nt«l  jj[ovt>»i» 
mnit  will   Ha\o   iin."      Tliu  iuiitMnMv  i>l'    MllHrtlU'^llrtl^UH  mlvlwul 
(li«>  poopU'  ill  l\\v\v  (own  imHliii,:,>*  lo  iuitrurt  llioir  ruproMoiita 
tivtw  (Ml  tlu*  »|invHltitii ;  Hiid  II  voi'v  grriil  miijt'iilv  »>l'  lliu  Iu^siih, 
all  tliiit  \vrn»  ln'iird  Iroiii,  (Iri-luril  lor  il  imimimiiiihly. 

'I'ho  t"lu>iri>  t>l'  ail  Now  l''.ii;j,lim>l  VViin  H|M>uluiiroi(t(  luiil  uii 
tloiililril.  Itrt  iv\U^iu1(mI  lino  ol'  hwh'omhI,  willi  nal'o  iiml  ttiii\u 
iiitMil  linrltofH,  tlclitMJ  lli»<  m('iiti('t>  ol'  a  MoiOwiilo;  iln  niin|iaia 
tivcU  rom|>ail  |>intulaliun  j^avo  il  a  MriihtM"!'  hoi'iiiily  af(,aiuMl 
llio  n^liirii  ul    llio  »>ii«iiiiv. 

I'ar  (iilVtiioiil.  \va.M  llio  puhilioii  ol'  Now  York,  uiiicli  wari  lliu 
lii-Hl,  ol'  llu>  lar«:,o  ctMilnil  coloiiitin  lo  maik  i»lil  iirovocaltly  Imi" 
lilUMil'  roiidllfl.  hovolnl  to  i'oiniitii|'i'o,  hill*  IMWriitHHi'il  Inil  oiio 
Hraporl,  and,  il  lliitl  ^ii^al  mail  hlioiild  Tall  iiilollm  jiiinilh  of 
IIk^  lii'ili  >Ii,  mIio  iiii.mI,  lor  llio  liiiio,  rohi^ii  all  iiiariliiiio  iiilor 
i'.oiii'r.o  uilli  llio  world.  'riiodaiim>i'  wra  cIoho  al  hand,  dihtiiiclly 
poiToivod,  and  iiioviluUl;'.  On  llio  I  woh!  v  foinlli  ol  May  llio 
V(»to  ol"  llu*  coiiliiioiilal  coiigi'oHrt,  I'ociMiimoiidiiig  llio  o.-ilalilihli 
iiKHit  ol'  a  now  ^dvci'iiniriil,  wa.i  ndri'rod  lo  .lolni  Moiin  Mcull, 
llariiifj,-,  Kt'iiiHt^n,  l.tuvin,  Jay,  ( 'ii\  lor,  and  Itroonio.;  llirro,da\n 
lator  U'oiiiHiMi  i'o|iorli'd  Irom  llio.  ooininiiroo  llial  llio  I'iplil.  oT 
croalin^'  civil  goyornnionl.  in,  and  oiil'IiI  lo  Im^  in  llio  |mio|iIo, 
and  iJia!  llio.  old  roini  ul'  fj;ovoriiiiioiil  wiu<  dimiolyod.  ( >ii  llio 
lliirly  liihl,  roMoliilioiiit  woro  |iro|ionod  liy  Hooll,  .lay,  nl  llai'- 
iiif;',  ordoriiip;  olociioiiM  lor  do|iiilini,  willi  iiiii|ilo  ^..luorn  lo 
iiiHliliilo  a.  p^oycriiinoiil  wliioli  rfiioiild  coiiliiino  in  loivo  iiiilil  ii 
riil.iiro  poaco  willi  Oroal,  ilriliiin.  liiil.  ourly  in  .liiiio,  llio  Now 
^'ol•li  ooii^ivHH  liad  1(1  |>iiHM  ii|Min  llio  Vir^dniii  |tio|M(hilioii  id' 
indo|>ondonco.  'I'liin  wan  llio  niuiiioiil.  Iliiil  nliowod  llio.  lirniiioHH 
and  llio  |»iiiily  ••!'  .Ia,v  ;  llio  diirkor  lla  lioiir,  llio  moro.  n  ndy  lio 
wan  l.o  clioor;  llio  jiToalcr  lln-  daii|.'vr,  llio.  iiiuif  |.ioiii|.lly  lio 
hl.o|(|M'd  I'orwa.rd  lo  j.niido.  Ho  Imd  in  ii-lod  on  a  nii'oiid  poli 
lion  Id  llio  Iviiifj-',  willi  II'.  lalool  uoaklioHrt  ol'  |iiii|)Mi,o.  'llio 
liopo  ul'  ultlainiii^',  lodro.-K  >•  an  ^ono  ;  lio  ooiild  now,  willi  |Hr 
loci,  poaco  ul'  mind,  is,\\t'  I'roo  hoopc  lu  liin  coiivicliuiih  and 
HoiiHo  ul'  duly.  iSoliovioj.  llial  ilio  |iroviiiiial  n.ii^n-m  l.lioii  in 
HCHHiun  had  iiol,  Im'oh  v>;iod  willi  power  lu  diriHulvo,  llio  colilioc. 
tioii  will:  <lro:il,  nrilaiit,  ho  \>:U\  i!  oo-m-  .aiy  !ir-t  l.u  '■nuMdl 
tlio  poupl.    llioiiiHi'lvoH.      I''ur  l.hi.t  Olid,  on  llio  ohviiilh  -A'  .Iiilio, 


m 


H  ■ « 


m ' 


■ifi 


M    ^ 


430        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEXCE. 


EP.  III.;  en.  XXVII, 


the  New  York  congress,  on  Lis  motion,  called  upon  the  free- 
holders and  electors  of  the  colony  to  confer  on  the  deputies 
whom  they  were  about  to  choose  full  powers  of  administering 
government,  framing  a  constitution,  and  deciding  the  greal 
question  of  independence. 

In  this  manner  the  unanimity  of  K"ew  York  was  insured ; 
her  decision  remained  no  longer  in  doubt,  though  it  could  not 
be  formally  announced  till  after  the  election  of  its  convention. 
It  was  taken  in  the  presence  of  extreme  danger,  against  which 
they  knew  that   no   adequate  preparations   could   he  made. 
Bands  of  savages  hovered  on  the  inland  frontier  of  the  i)rov- 
inco ;  the  army  of  Canada  was  flying  before  disease  and  want 
and  a  vastly  superior  force ;  an  irresistible  fleet  was  approaching 
the  harbor  of  its  chief  city ;  and  a  veteran  army,  computed  hy 
no  one  at  less  than  thirty  thousand  men,  was  almost  in  sight. 
Little  had  been  done  by  congress  to  re-enforce  Washingion 
except  to  pass  votes  ordering  out  large  numbers  of  militia  from 
Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  I^^ew  Jersey,  and 
still  agpin  more  militia  under  the  name  of  the  flying  camps  of 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Maryland;  and  none  of  these 
were  to  be  engaged  beyond  December.     Congress  had  not  yet 
authorized  the  emplojTnent  of  men  for  three  years  or  for  the 
war;  nor  did  it  do  so  till  near  the  end  of  June,  when  it  was 
too  late   for  success  in   enlistments;    the   feeble   army  then 
under  Washington's  command  was,  by  the  conditions  of  its  ex- 
istence,  to  melt  away  in  the  autumn  and  coming  winter. 

Moreover,  Tryon,  ever  unscrupulous  and  indefatigal)lo,  from 
on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  secretly  souo'ht  tlirough  the 
royahst  mayor  of  the  city  of  Xew  York  and  otliers  to  prepare 
a  body  of  conspirators,  who  should  raise  an  insurrection  in  aid 
of  Howe  on  his  arrival,  blow  up  the  American  magazines,  gain 
possession  of  the  guns,  and  seize  AVashington  and  his  princi- 
pal officers.  Some  of  the  inferior  agents  were  suspected  of 
having  intended  to  procure  Wasliington's  death.  There  were 
full  proofs  that  the  plan  against  his  army  was  i)rosecuted  with 
tlie  utmost  diligence  ;  but  it  was  discovered  befoi-e  it  was  ma- 
tured. It  is  certain  tliat  two  or  three  of  liis  own  guard  were 
partners  in  the  scliemn  of  treachery ;  and  one  of  them,  after 
conviction  before  a  court-martial,  was  hanged.    It  was  tlie  first 


1776.       EVERY  COLONY  DEMANDS  INDEPENDENCE.         431 


great 


gain 


military  execution  of  the  revolution.  This  discovery  of  dan- 
ger from  liid'jn  foes  made  no  change  in  the  conduct  of  the 
commander-in-chief. 

The  provincial  congress  of  New  Jersey,  which  came  fresh 
from  the  people  with  ample  powers  and  organized  itself  in 
the  evening  of  the  eleventh  of  Juno,  was  opened  with  prayer 
by  John  Witherspoon,  an  eloquent  Scottish  minister  of  great 
ability,  learning,  and  liberality ;  ready  to  dash  into  pieces  all 


images  of  false  gods. 


Born  near  Edinburgh,  trained  up  at  its 


university,  in  1708  he  removed  to  Princeton,  to  become  the 
successor  of  Jonathan  Edwards,  Davis,  and  Finley,  as  president 
of  its  college.  A  combatant  of  skepticism  and  the  narrow 
philosophy  of  the  materialists,  he  was  deputed  by  Somerset 
county  to  take  jiart  in  applyhig  his  noble  theories  to  the  con- 
struction of  a  civil  government. 

The  body  of  which  he  was  a  memljer  was  instructed  to  pre- 
pare for  the  defence  of  the  colony  against  the  powerful  enemy 
whose  arrival  was  hourly  expected ;  next,  to  decide  the  ques- 
tion of  independence ;  and,  lastly,  to  form  and  establish  a  con- 
stitution. They  promptly  resolved  to  re-enforce  the  a:  .ny  of 
New  York  with  thirty-three  hundred  of  the  militia.  William 
Franklin,  the  last  royalist  governor,  still  lingered  at  Perth 
Amboy ;  and,  in  the  hope  of  dividing  public  opiiiion  by  the 
semblance  of  a  regular  constitutional  government,  he  had,  by 
proclamation,  called  a  meeting  of  the  general  assembly  for  the 
twentieth  of  June.  The  convention,  on  the  fourteenth,  voted 
that  his  proclamation  ought  not  to  be  heeded ;  the  next  day  he 
was  arrested ;  and,  as  he  refused  to  give  his  parole,  was  kept 
under  guard  till  he  could  be  removed  to  Connecticut.  On  the 
twenty-second  it  was  resolved,  by  a  vote  of  fifty-four  against 
three,  "  that  a  government  be  formed  for  regulating  tlie  inter- 
nal police  of  the  colony,  ptirsuant  to  the  recommendation  of 
the  continental  congress  ; "  and  in  that  congress  five  friends  to 
independence  were  elected  to  represent  New  Jersey.  As  the 
constitution,  drafted  by  a  connnittce  of  which  Jacob  Green, 
Presbyterian  minister  of  Hanover,  was  the  chairman,  was  re- 
ported before  indLpendeiiee  had  been  declared,  a  clause  pro- 
vided for  the  contingency  of  a  reconciliation ;  otherwise  this 
charter  from  the  people  was  to  ro:nain  firm  and  inviolable.    Its 


I' 

Hi 


iii' 


■■  i 

I 

1    i 

H 

'-t 

i,    1 
.  t' 

1 

',1 

I 

432        AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,     ep.  hi.  ;  on.  xxvn. 

principles  were :  a  legislative  power  intnisted  to  two  separate 
houses;  a  governor  annually  chosen  by  the  legislature,  and 
possessing  a  casting  vote  in  one  branch  of  the  legislature  ; 
judges  to  be  appointed  by  the  legislature  for  seven  years  and 
for  live  years;  the  elective  franchise  to  be  exercised  by  ill  ii 
habitants  of  full  age  who  had  been  residents  for  twelve  months 
and  possessed  fifty  ]x)unds  proclamation  money.  No  Protestant 
coiild  be  denied  any  rights  or  franchises  on  account  of  his  re- 
ligious principles ;  and  to  every  i)erson  within  the  colony  were 
guaranteed  the  rig]  it  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates 
of  his  own  conscience,  and  an  innuunity  from  aU  tithes  or 
church  rates,  except  in  conformity  to  his  ..mi  engagements. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  June  the  committees  of  Philadelphia 
and  of  the  several  counties  of  Pennsylvania  mcL  at  Carpenters' 
Hall  in  a  provincial  conference.     Their  duty  wiis  imperative, 
and  yet  necessarily  the  occasion  of  a  bluer  domestic  feud! 
The  old  proprietary  government,  in  an  existence  of  more  than 
ninety  years,  had  won  the  admiration  of  the  wise  throughout 
the  ^yorld  by  its  respect  for  religious  and  civil  liberty,  had 
kept  itself  free  from  the  sus])icion  of  having  instigated  or  ap- 
proved  the  obnoxious  measures  of  the  British  ministry,  and 
had  maintained  the  attitude  of  a  mediator  hetwwn  parliament 
and  America.     When  the  obstinacy  of  the  Icing  left  no  room 
for  reconciliation,  it  came  naturally  to  its  end.     Such  of  the 
members  of  the  assembly  as  remained  in  their  places  confessed 
in  a  formal  vote  their  "despair"  of  again  bringing  logether  a 
quorum ;  and  when,  according  to  the  charter,  they  could  only 
have  kept  their  body  alive  by  adjourning  from'  day  to  day, 
they  made  an  illegal  adjournment  to  a  day  nearly  two  months 
later  than  that  appointed  for  the  vote  of  congress  on  indepen- 
dence, leaving  measures  of  defence  unattended  to.     The  ad- 
journment was  an  abdication ;  and  the  people  prepared  prompt- 
ly and  somewhat  rouglily  to  supersede  the  exi)iring  system. 
Nor  were  the  ]iroposed  clumges  restricted  only  to  forms :  a 
fierce  demand  broke  out  for  an  immediate  cx-tension  of  the 
right  of  suffrage  to  those  "  whom,"  it  was  held,  "  the  resolve 
of  congress  had  now  rendered  electors." 

The  ]irovincial  conference  was  composed  of  men  wlio  had 
hitherto  not   been  concerned  in  the  government.      Thomas 


■? 


1776.       EVERY  COLONY  DEMANDS  INDEPENDENCE.         433 

Mackean  was  chosen  its  president.  On  the  nineteenth,  one 
hundred  and  four  members  being  present,  the  resohition  of 
congress  of  the  fifteenth  of  May  was  read  twice,  and  unani- 
mously approved;  the  present  government  of  the  colony 
was  condemned  as  incompetent,  and  a  new  one  was  ordered 
to  be  formed  on  the  authority  of  the  people  only.  Every 
other  colony  had  shunned  the  mixture  of  (questions  of  internal 
reform  with  the  question  of  the  relation  to  Great  Britain  ;  but 
here  a  petition  was  read  from  Gennans,  praying  that  all  asso- 
ciators  who  were  taxable  might  vote.  In  the  election  to  the 
assembly,  the  possession  of  fifty  pounds  proclamation  money 
had  been  required  as  the  qualification  of  a  voter  both  in  the 
city  under  its  charter  and  in  the  counties,  and  the  foreign  bom 
must  furtlicr  liave  been  naturalized  under  a  law  which  required 
an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British  king ;  the  conference  re- 
viving the  sinq^le  provision  of  "  ^he  Great  Law"  of  December 
1682  endowed  every  tax-payer  ^  ,  the  right  to  vote  for  mem- 
bers of  the  constituent  convention.  No  more  did  poverty  or 
place  of  birth  disfranchise  free  citizens  in  Pennsylvania. 

While  in  this  manner  the  divisions  arising  from  differences 
in  national  origin  and  in  wealth  were  thrown  down,  the  confer- 
ence, at  the  instance  of  Christopher  ^Marshall  who  had  been 
educated  among  the  Friends  and  had  left  the  society  because 
he  held  it  right  to  draw  the  sword  in  defence  of  civil  liberty, 
resolved  that  the  members  elected  to  the  convention  should  be 
required  to  declare  their  faith  in  God  the  Father,  Christ  his 
eternal  Son,  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  divine  inspiration  of  the 
Scriptures.  The  pure-minded  mystic  did  not  perceive  that  he 
was  justifying  an  inquisition  by  the  civil  authority  into  the 
free  action  of  the  soul,  and  a  punishment  for  departing  in 
belief  from  the  established  faith  of  the  state. 

It  had  not  been  the  intention  of  the  conference  to  perform 
administrative  acts ;  yet,  to  repair  the  grievous  neglect  of  the 
assembly,  they  ordered  a  fijing  camp  of  six  thousand  men  to 
be  called  out,  in  conformity  to  the  vote  of  t lie  continental  con- 
gress. 

One  thing  more  remained :  on  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty- 
fourth,  on  the  report  of  a  C(jmmittee  composed  of  Mackean, 
Benjamin  Bush  of  Philadelphia,  and  James  Smith  of  York 


VOL.  IV. — 28 


I 


I     !i    1  . 


431       AMKRIl'A  AUMS  FOU  SELF-DHFliNCK.     kp.  hi.  ;  oit.  xxvn. 

county,  tlio  inoml)i.M'8  of  tlii^  coiiforoiu'iv  fi;iviiii!;  (lu'ir  voicos  ono 
by  ono  with  unaniinity,  proiioiincinl  in  lu'lialt'  of  flieniselvos 
!uul  tlieir  constituents  their  williiijijiR'SM  to  concur  in  a  vote  of 
conji;rcss  doclariiiij;  tho  united  colonies  to  be  frei'  and  indepen- 
(h'nt  states;  and  an  antlienticateil  copy  of  the  vote  was,  by 
Mackean,  thi'ir  presidiMit,  dcHveri'd  directly  to  congress. 

AViser  were  the  people  of  Maryland,  for  they  uct(>d  willi 
moderation  and  unaniniity,  from  a  senso  of  ri;;ht,  and  from 
sympathy  with  their  sister  colonies.  In  May  and  the  early 
])art  of  Juno  tho  pi'opl(>,  in  county  meetings,  renounced  tho 
hope  of  reconciliation;  listeninjj;  to  their  voices,  (ho  (H)nnnitt,eo 
of  safety  cidled  a  ct)nvc>ntion  ;  and  that  body,  aKsend)lin<^  on 
tho  tweiity-lirst  of  , June,  placed  itself  in  the  closest  relations 
with  its  constituents.  On  the  ro(piest  of  any  ono  di'lcgati",  (ho 
ycius  and  nays  mii;ht  bo  taken  and  entered  in  its  journal ;  its 
debates  and  ])roceedin<2;s  were  public.  Jts  measures  for  calling 
militia  into  active  service  w(>re  |)ronipt  and  cllicient.  On  tho 
afternoon  (»f  tho  day  on  which  Moultrie  repelled  (he  IJrKish 
B(piadron  from  (Jliarleston  it  concurred  with  \'ii-j;iiHa,  on  tho 
Bubject  of  independence,  a  confederation,  trcMities  with  foreitijn 
powers,  and  tho  reservation  of  the  internal  f^overmnent  of  each 
colony  to  its  own  ])eople;  and  live  days  later,  while  tho  conti- 
nental coiiirri'ss  was  still  considering!^  the  form  of  its  declaration 
of  iuilepi'iideiu'e,  it  directed  (he  election  of  a  new  ('onvention, 
to  create  a  government  by  the  sole  authority  of  its  people. 


(  ■   !' 


!!(? 


1770.  INDlil'ENDENCi:  KKaOLVKD  UN    ANP   DKCLAUKD.    436 


CIIAITKIl   XWIII. 

THK    UKHOI.UTION    AND    I'llI',    DIX'LAK.VIION    Ol'"    r NDI'.IMINDIINOK. 

KiiOM   iiir;  l''iusi'   lo   riii.;  iMtmnii  ok  .Iui.y    177(1. 

On  (Iui  moriilti^^  of  llu!  (IrKt,  of  .Inly,  Ww  Miiy  hcI,  iipjiH,  for 
(•oiisi(|(«riii^  llii'  rt'soliilioii  of  iiHlcpctKlcncc,  .lolm  Ad.uiiH,  con- 
lidciil  an  if  tli((  V(»l,(!  had  licdii  laI<(Mi,  iiivokcti  tho  |»lcHHiii/r  of 
lioavcn  to  mal<c  llic  lanv-IxnMi  rcpiiltlitr  iiion«  ;i;IorioiiH  (Iiaii  any 
wliicli  liad  ^(»ii(!  lMf<»iv.  IIIh  licarl.  iiK^llrd  wilJi  hoiTow  al.  Ilio 
Hiiircriii^s  of  (111!  ariny  llial  had  hccii  in  Canada,;  \w.  knew  lliat 
I']n<flaiid,  having  recovered  flial.  proviiu^*,  coniinaiided  (lio 
upper  lalvCM  aiid  \hv.  MissiHsippi ;  thai,  nhe  had  'i,  ft-eo  coininiiiii- 
(latioii  with  all  the  IrihcH  cd"  IiidiaiiH  alonfjj  <he  woHtcsni  froti- 
tierH,  and  would  induce  llieni  hy  liloodHlKid  and  lir(!  to  drivo  tti 
the,  iidiaJMlaiilH  upon  the  rni<l(||(t  He(l,leni('nt.H,  at,  a,  tirno  wli<!fi 
tli(!  coasls  nii^jjlit,  lie  ra,va,^(Ml  hy  tlu!  I'l-itiHli  navy  and  a.  Hin|i;lo 
da,y  n\\<^]\t  hrin*^  the  army  hefore  N(!W  York-.  Independc-uco 
could  1)0  ohtained  (»idy  by  a,  ^reat,  (!X|)(!nK(!  of  life;  \)ui,  tlio 
f:;reater  tlio  dau^tir,  Uk;  Htron^n'r  waw  Imh  ({(^ti^rrtHiuilion,  for  ho 
liold  that,  a  fret!  eouKtitiition  of  civil  ^oveninietd,  could  ri«»(,  bo 
purchased  at  loo  dear  a  rato.  He  called  to  inind  Mk;  lixcsd  rulo 
of  tiie  Itoniaus,  neviir  to  Hcnd  or  re('eive  arid)asHadorH  to  treat 
of  peace  with  tJieir  eiKtiiiicjM  while  (heir  afVairH  went  in  a  diHax- 
trouH  Hitiialion  ;  and  he  waH  cheered  l.y  (hi;  heliid"  (hat,  Im'h 
countryuuin  w(!r(!  of  the  same  temper  and  principle. 

At  the  ap|)oint,(!d  hour,  tlu!  intiinlxirH,  probably  on  that  day 
fifty  ill  iiuirdKir,  a,pp(!ared  in  their  planiw ;  amorifr  them,  the 
delcffates  lately  chosen  in  New  .btrsey.  'I'Ik!  ^reat  occasion 
had  broiiirht  forth  su|)erior  sfatrsnieti — men  who  j<»ir)(id  mod- 
eration to  energy.     After  they  had  all  piissed  away,  tln!ir  Ion- 


J\ 


":mr-'m 


■■  m 


i  I'V 


V, 


;! 


436       AMERICA  AEMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ei-.  hi.  ;  en.  sxviii. 

gcvity  was  remarked  as  a  proof  of  tlieir  calm  and  temperate 
nature ;  full  two  thirds  of  the  New  Enpjland  representatives 
lived  beyond  seventy  years— some  of  them  to  be  eighty  or 
ninety.     Eveiy  colony  was  found  to  be  represented,  and  the 
delegates  of  all  but  one  had  received  full  power  of  action. 
Comprehensive  instructions,  reaching  the  question  of  indepen- 
dence without  explicitly  using  the  word,  had  been  given  hy 
Massachusetts  in  January,  by  Georgia  on  the  fifth  of  February, 
by  South  Carolina  in  March.    North  Carolina,  in  the  words 
of  Cornelius  Harnett,  on  the  twelfth  of  April,  led  the  way  in 
expressly  directing  its  representatives  in  congress  to  concur  in 
a  declaration  of  independence.     On  the  iirst  of  May,  JVIassa- 
chusetts  expunged  the  regal  style  from  all  public  proceedings, 
and  substituted  the  name  of  her  "government  and  people;" 
on  the  fourth,  Rhode  Island  more  explicitly  renounced  allegi- 
ance, and  made  its  delegates  the  representatives  of  an  indei)en- 
dent  republic;   Virginia  on  the  fifteenth,  tlie  very  day  on 
which  John  Adams  in  congress  carried  his  measure  for  insti- 
tuting governments  by  the  sole  authority  of  the  people,  or- 
dered her  delegates  at  Philadelphia  to  propose  independence, 
and  by  a  circular  letter  comnmnicated  her  resolve  to  all  her 
sister  colonies.     The  movement  of  Virginia  was  seconded  al- 
most in  her  words  by  Connecticut  on  the  fourteenth  of  June, 
New  Hampshire  on  the  fifteenth,  Now  Jersey  on  the  twenty- 
first,  the  conference  of  connnittees  of  Pennsylvania  on  the 
twenty-fouith,  Maryland  on  the  twenty-eighth.     Delaware  on 
the  twenty-second  of  March  had  still  hoped  for  conciliation ; 
but  on  the  fifteenth  of  June  she  instructed  her  delegates  to 
concur  in  forming  further  compacts  between  the  united  colo- 
nies, concluding  treaties  with  foreign  powers,  and  adopting 
such  other  measures  as  should  be  deemed  necessary  for  pro- 
moting the  liherty,  safety,  and  interests  of  America.    The  vote 
of  the  eleventh  of  June  showed  the  purpose  of  New  York  ; 
but,  under  the  accumulation  of  dangers,  her  statesmen  Avaited 
a  few  days  longer,  that  her  voice  for  independence  might  have 
the  direct  authority  of  her  people. 

Tlie  business  of  the  day  began  with  reading  various  letters, 
among  others  one  from  Wi  shington,  who  returned  the  whole 
number  of  his  men,  present  and  fit  for  duty,  including  the  one 


or- 


: 


1770.    INDEPENDENCE   RESOLVED  OX  AND  DECLARED.    437 

regiment  of  artillery,  at  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
fifty-four.  Of  near  fourteen  hundred,  the  fireh^cks  were  bad  ; 
more  tlian  eight  hundred  had  none  at  all ;  three  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-seven,  more  than  half  the  whole  number 
of  infantry,  had  no  bayonets.  Of  the  militia  who  had  been 
called  for,  only  about  a  thousand  had  joined  the  camp.  Witli 
this  force  the  general  was  to  defend  extensive  lines  against  an 
army,  near  at  hand,  of  thirty  thousand  veterans.  An  express 
from  Lee  made  known  that  iifty-three  ships,  with  Clinton,  had 
arrived  before  Charleston,  of  which  the  safety  was  involved  in 
doubt. 

A  more  cheering  letter,  which  Chase  had  forwarded  by  ex- 
press from  Annapolis,  brought  tlie  first  news  of  the  unanimity 
of  the  Maryland  convention,  whose  vote  for  independence  was 
produced  and  read. 

The  order  of  the  day  came  next,  and  congress  resolved 
itself  "into  a  committee  of  the  whole  to  take  into  con^.idera- 
tion  the  resolution  respecting  independency."     For  a  few  min- 
utes, silence  prevailed.     In  the  absence  of  the  mover  of  the 
resolution,  the  eyes  of  every  one  turned  toward  its  seconder, 
John  Adams;  and  the  now  members  from  New  Jersey  re- 
quested I  hat  the  arguments  used  in  former  debates  might  be 
recapitulated.    lie  had  made  no  preparation  for  that  morning ; 
but  for  many  months  indepondence  had  been  the  chief  object 
of  his  thoughts  and  his  discourse,  and  the  strongest  arguments 
ranged  themselves  before  his  mind  in  their  natural  order.     Of 
his  sudden,  impetuous,  unpremeditated  speech,  no  nanutes  ever 
existed,  and  no  report  was  made.     It  is  only  remembered  that 
he  set  forth  the  justice  and  the  necessity,  the  seasonableness 
and  the  advantages  of  a  separation  from  Great  Britain;  he 
dwelt  on  the  neglect  and  insult  with  wiiich  their  petitions  had 
been  treated  by  the  king ;  and  on  the  vindictive  spirit  mani- 
fested in  the  employment  of  German  troops  whose  arrival  was 
hourly  expected.     He  concluded  by  urging  the  present  time  as 
the  most  suitable  for  resolving  on  independence,  in;ismuch  as 
it  had  become  the  first  wish  and  the  last  instruction  of  the 
connnunities  they  represented. 

Dickinson  of  Pennsylvania  rose,  not  so  much  to  reply  as  to 
justify  hiuiself  before  congress.    He  took  pride  in  being  the 


'If 


If 


■•  ,5 


438       AMKIMCA  AKMS  FOU  SKI.F DlirKNCi:. 


Ki'.  III.;  CM.  xxvm. 


•M 


•A 


i' 


anient  us8ort(»r  of  frvodom,  was  (•..iiscious  tliat  liis  writin^^s  had 
won  hiiu  IV  ^m-at  iiainr,  iind  had  pivparcd  hiiiisi-ll'  w  iih  ihi-  ui- 
nuwt  caro  to  viiidicato  his  opinioiiH,  which  ho  woidd  havo  held 
it  guilt  to  siippivss.     'I'hi'sc  wvw  his  W(»rds: 

"  1  vahu>  the  h>vo  of  my  roimd-y  as  I  oii-rlit,  !>iil  I  vahio 
inj  eomitry  moro.  The  first  campai^ni  will  W.  '.ww\<>  of  tho 
eoiitrovrrsy.  Tho  (h-clarali.m  will  not  slroiifrt!  m  u-  by  ouo 
man  or  b_y  tho  loast  supply,  whilo  it  may  v:  inm:  soldi(>rH 

tomldilional  mu-ltios  and  «)utrag('s.  Williou'  som  uroliiKory 
trials  of  our  strcii^^^lh,  wo  ought  not  to  ('(.mi^  (  our  country 
u])on  an  altoruativo,  wh(>ro  to  rm-do  woidd  hv.  luhmy  and  to 
persist  might  he  (K'struction. 

"No  instanee  is  reeolleeted  of  a  people,  witli(.iit  a  hattlo 
fought  or  an  ally  gained,  ahroga ling  forev(>r  Iheir  eonneetion 
with  a  warlike  eonnii(>reial  empire.  It  might  imile  (ho  dilTer- 
ent  parties  in  (Jreat  I'.ritain  jjgiiiist  us,  and  it  might  create  (Mh- 
union  among  ourselves. 

"  It  is  singularly  disresi)ectfnl  to  1'' ranee  to  malu;  (he  decla- 
ration hefore  her  si>nse  is  known,  as  wo  have  sent  an  agent 
expressly  to  iiupiire  wheth(>r  such  a  declaration  would  ho  ae- 
eei)tal)le  to  her,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  he  is  now  arrived 
at  tho  court  of  Versailles.  'IMie  door  to  accommodation  with 
(Jreat  Britain  ought  not  to  be  shut,  until  w-  know  what  terniM 
can  bo  obtained  from  some  competent  power.  ThuH  to  break 
with  lier  before  we  have  compacted  with  anolher  is  to  make 
experiments  on  the  lives  and  liberties  of  my  countrymen.  AVe 
ought  to  inform  that  power  that  we  are  detiu-mined  to  declare 
ourselves  independent,  and  to  support  that  deelaratiou  with 
our  lives  and  fortunes,  |)rovided  that  power  will  approve  the 
proceeding,  acknowledge  our  in<lependeiice,  and  enter  into  a 
treaty  with  us  upon  ecpiitabh!  and  advantageous  conditions, 

"  The  formation  of  our  governments  and  an  agreement 
upon  the  terms  of  our  confederation  ought  to  precede  the  as- 
sumption of  our  station  among  sovereigns.  A  sovereignty 
composed  of  several  distinct  bodies  of  men,  not  subject  to 
established  constitutions  and  not  combined  together  by  con- 
llrnied  articl(>s  of  union,  is  such  a  sovereignty  as  has  never 
appeared.  These  ]>articulars  would  not  be  unobserved  by  for- 
eign kingdoms  and  states,  and  they  will  wait  for  other  proofs 


I 


iaiMrninirrinnBni 


1770.  INDKI'KNDKNCK   I{KS()l,Vi:i>  ON    AND   l>i;('l,Al:r.l».     .|;tl) 


nf  |Milili(':il  (Micri^y  lu>fon'  (lii-ywill   tiriil    iin  willi   tin' dcHiivd 
ath'iilioii. 

"Willi  n>s|iccl  to  DiimcIvt'M,  lli(>  (•uiiKit|('nili(»n  innlill  luom 
HcriuiiH.  Till'  Coniiiii!^  (»l'  ((III-  {.n>vrr?im('iilH  is  n  new  iiikI  (iilli- 
ciill  U(»rl<.  Wlu'ii  lliirt  is  (|()iit<  jiiid  llin  itcoplo  |»(r('civ()  lliiit, 
tliKV  iiiiil  llii!;-  jiof  Icrify  iiro  In  live  iiii<lrr  well  r";..|ilitl(«(|  (•<»ii- 
Hlitnlioiis,  lli(  y  will  \h\  oii('<»iirii;.rr(|  lo  jodk  lorwiinl  to  iiwlci- 
IM'iHJciK'c  iiM  ('..in|ilnliii^'  lliu  iioIiIm  HVHlmi  <»r  Ijirir  p(i|iiical 
liiippiiicsM.  Tlio  <il»i.'c|rt  iicjircsl,  lo  llii'iri  iin*  ik.w  ciivrloiH'd  tii 
t'loiidri  iitid  llidMr  iihirc  diMliitit  iippciir  coiifiisrd  ;  lli(<  ivjiiljuii 
uiH'  cili/.cii  is  lo  Im'iii"  lo  miotlicr,  :irid  llic  coiiinclion  one  hIiiId 
is  lo  IniA'c  uilji  jiiiollicr,  Miry  do  nol,  t'lmiiol,  know. 

"Tllc  coiijcdrmlioil  oil«;lil,  to  Itc  Hclllcd  |m  forn  ||in  drcl.im,- 
lioii  of  iii(l'pi'iidciii'(>.  l''oivi<rii('rs  will  lliiiik  il,  iiiosl,  iv^^iihir; 
Mil)  weaker  HliilcH  will  iiol.  lie  in  mo  iniicli  daii^n  i- <''  laivin"' dis- 
iidvanfa;j;eoiis  leniiH  imposed  upon  llnin  liy  llir  Htroii;;-er.  If 
(lie  dcelarulioii  is  (irsi,  made,  polilleal  iief-eHhilieH  may  iii'jfe  on 
Mie  aeerplaiice  (d'  eoiHJilions  lii;;lil_y  <lisn;^n-eeal>Ie  lo  pai-lH  <d'  iJie 
union.  The  |iresenl,  e«»mparaliv(!  eireimislanivM  of  IIk;  colonieH 
are  now  loleiahly  well  iind(;n;l,ood  ;  Nnl,  Koine  Juive  very  (-x- 
traordinary  elainiH  lo  terrilory,  llial,  if  admilted,  an  lliey  I'ni^dil, 
lie  in  !i  I'liliire  eonrederalion,  l,li(i  tenns  of  il  nol  l)eiii;,r'  ye|,  ad- 
jiisUd,  all  id;  a  <d"  IIk^  preKcnl,  eoni|)ariHoii  helween  lliem Would 
lie  eonroiinded.  TUimo  whose  honndarieH  an!  aekiiowl('d^r,.(| 
would  sink  in  pro|.orlion  to  Mie  eli'valion  of  Iheir  iiei^rhhors. 
J'eHides;  iinloealcd  lands,  not  eompreh(nd(d  williin  acknowl- 
cdfjfod  boundaries,  are  decMierj  a.  fund  Hiillieieiil  ((,  defray  a.  viwl, 
])art,  if  n(»l,  liie  whoh*,  of  (Ik;  expenses  of  I  he  war.*  Them 
i)U<^]A,  to  he  considered  as  Mie  properly  of  .dl,  aecpiired  hy  tJie 
urniH  of  all.  TIk!  hoiiiidariits  of  IIm;  e(.lonieH  oii^hl,  In  hefixid 
before  the  dceiarafion,  and  their  respect iv((  ri^^hts  niiitnally 
^iiaraiit,(!ed;  and  iinloea.t,<d  kinds  oii;j;ht,  pnivions  to  that,  de(!l;'i.- 
nition,  to  b(!  solnnnly  appropriated  to  iIk;  |.(!ne(if,  of  idl  :  lor  it 
may  be  ((xtnMiiely  dilliciilt,  if  not  iiii|.racticalil",  to  obtain  Mi(!H(! 
df^eisions  afterward.  Wlaiii  thiiu's  Hhail  Im;  IIiiih  delib.'rat,e.ly 
rendered  linn  at-  honu!  and  favorabh;  abroad,  then  h'l,  Anierica, 
bearin;,'  up  her  ^hnj  and  llu;  destiny  of  her  (;hildivn,  advance 
with  nia,j(!stio  Kteps  and  a,4Hiimu  lier  Htatioii  among  the  hov- 
oreigns  of  t,hc  world." 


m 


m 


If 

i  1} 

1      ,ll 

■.     .  Mi 

I',  r- 

440     AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEx\CE.    ep.  m. ;  en.  xxviii. 

Wilson  of  Pennsylvania  could  no  longer  agi-ee  with  Lis  col- 
league. He  had  at  an  eai-ly  day  foreseen  independence  ?s  the 
probable  though  not  the  intended  result  of  the  contest ;  he  had 
uniformly  dechired  in  his  place  that  he  never  would  vote  for  it 
contrary  to  his  instructions,  nay,  that  he  regarded  it  as  some- 
thnig  more  than  presumption  to  take  a  ste])  of  such  impor<:ance 
without  express  instructions  and  authority.  "  For  "  asked  he 
"ought  this  act  to  be  the  act  of  four  or  five  individuals,  or 
should  It  be  the  act  of  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  T'  But 
now  that  their  authority  was  communicated  by  the  conference 
of  committees,  he  stood  on  very  different  ground. 

Before  the  end  of  the  debate  rose  Witherspoon  of  New 
Jersey.     In  a  short  speech  he  remarked  that  thougli  he  had 
not  iieard  all  the  discussions  in  that  body,  yet  he  had  not 
wanted  ample  sources  of  iuformation;  and  that,  in  his  iudg 
nient,  the  country  M'as  not  only  ripe  for  independence,  but  w^ 
in  danger  of  becoming  rotten  for  want  of  it,  if  its  declaration 
wero  longer  delayed.     Others  spoke;  among  tlum  m-obably 
Paea  of  Maryland,  M.^ckean  of  Delaware,  and,  undoubtedly, 
lulward  lu.tledge  of  South  Carolina;  but  no  authentic  record 
ot  t.ieir  remarks  has  been  preserved.     RIcliard  Henry  Lee  and 
Wythe  were  both  on  that  day  at  the  Virginia  convention  in 
Wilhainsburg.     Before  the  vote  was  taken,  the  delegates  from 
JNew  lork  read  to  the  committee  a  letter  which  they  had 
received  from  tlie  provincial  congress,  explaining  why  their 
formal  concurrence  must,  for  a  few  days  longer,  be  withheld, 
ihe  resolution  for  independence  was  then  sustained  by  nine 
colonies,  two  thirds  of  the  whole  mimber;  the  vote  of  South 
Carolina,  unanimously  it  would  seem,  was  in  tlie  negative  •  so 
was  that  cf  Pennsylvania,  by    he  vote  of  Dickinson,  Morris 
llum])hreys,  and  AV^ilJing,  against  Franklin,  lyforton,  and  Wil- 
son;  owing  to  the  absence  of  Rodney,  Delaware  was  divided 
each  member  voting  under  the  new  instruction  according  to 
his  former  known  opinion,  Mackean  for  independence  and 
Ivead  against  it. 

The  committee  rose,  and  Harrison  reported  the  resolution ; 
but,  at  the  request  of  Edward  Rutledge,  on  behalf  of  South 
Carolina,  the  determination  upon  it  was  put  oif  till  the  next 
day. 


1776.  INDEPENDENCE  RESOLVED  ON  AND  DECLARED.    441 

A  letter  from  "Washington,  of  the  twenty-nintli  of  June 
was  then  read,  from  which  it  appeared  that  Howe  and  forty' 
five  ships  VI  more,  laden  witli  troops,  had  arrived  at  Sandy 
Hook,  and  that  the  whole  fleet  was  expected  in  a  day  or  two. 
"  I  am  hopeful,"  wrote  the  general,  "  that  I  shall  get  some  re- 
enforcements  hef  ore  they  are  prepared  to  attack ;  be  that  as  it 
may,  I  shall  make  the  best  disposition  I  can  of  our  troops." 
Not  all  wbo  were  round  him  had  firnuiess  like  his  own  •  Eeed 
the  new  adjutant-general,  quailed  before  the  inequality  of  the 
British  and  American  force,  saying :  "  Had  I  known  the  true 
posture  of  affairs,  no  consideration  would  have  tempted  me  to 
have  taken  an  active  part  in  this  scene."  No  one  knew  better 
than  the  commander-in-cliief  the  exceedingly  discourao-i no- 
aspect  of  military  affairs  ;  but  liis  serene  and  unfaltering  c'our- 
age  in  this  hour  was  a  support  to  congress.  His  letter  was 
referred  to  the  Ijoard  of  war  which  they  had  recently  estab- 
lished, and  of  which  John  Adams  was  the  president. 

On  the  second  day  of  July  there  were  present  in  congress 
probably  forty-nine  members.  liodney  had  arrived  from  Dela- 
ware, and,  joining  Maekean,  secured  that  colony.  Dickinson 
and  Morris  stayed  away,  which  enable,!  Franklin,  Wilson,  and 
Morton  of  Peimsylvania,  to  outvote  Willing  and  Humphreys. 
The  South  Carolina  members,  still  uncertain  if  Charleston  had 
not  fallen,  for  the  sake  of  unanimity,  ca.ne  rourd;  so,  though 
New  York  was  still  unable  to  vote,  twelve  colonies,  with  no 
dissenting  one,  resolved  :  "  Tliat  these  united  colonies  are,  and 
of  rlglit  ouglit  to  be,  free  and  independent  states ;  that  they 
are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that 
all  political  connection  between  them  and  the  state  of  Great 
Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved." 

At  the  end  of  this  great  day  the  mind  of  John  Adams 
heaved  like  the  ocean  after  a  storm.  "The  greatest  ques- 
tion," he  wrote,  "was  decided  which  ever  was  del)ated  in 
America,  aiul  a  in-eater,  perhaps,  never  was  nor  will  bo  de- 
cided among  men.  ^7hen  I  look  back  to  ITOl,  and  run 
Through  the  series  of  political  events,  the  chain  of  causes  and 
effects,  I  am  surprised  ai  the  suddenness  as  well  as  gi-eatness 
of  this  revolution.  Britain  h.is  been  tilled  with  folly,  and 
America  with  wisdom.     It  is  the  will  of  heaven  that  the  two 


4i2      AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  hi.  ;  en.  xxviii. 


'I 


'i 


I 
'i 


countries  slioiild  be  sundered  forever ;  it  may  be  the  will  of 
heaven  that  America  shall  suffer  calamities  still  more  wasting 
and  distresses  yet  more  dreadful.  If  this  is  to  be  the  case,  the 
furnace  of  affliction  produces  refinement  in  states  as  well  as 
individuals ;  but  I  submit  all  my  hopes  and  fears  to  an  over- 
ruling Providence,  in  which,  unfashionable  as  the  faith  may 
be,  I  lirmly  believe. 

"Had  a  declaration  of  independence  been  made  seven 
months  ago,  we  might  before  this  hour  have  fonned  alliances 
with  foreign  states;  we  sliould  have  mastered  Quebec,  and 
been  in  possession  of  Canada ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  delay 
has  many  great  advantages  attending  it.  The  hopes  of  recon- 
ciliation which  were  fondly  e  .ertained  by  multitudes  of  the 
honest  and  well-meaning,  though  weak  and  mistaken,  have 
been  gradually  and  at  last  totally  extinguished.  Time  has  been 
given  for  the  whole  people  maturely  to  consider  the  great 
question  of  independence,  so  that  in  every  colony  of  the  thir- 
teen they  have  now  adopted  it  as  their  own  act. 

"But  the  day  is  passed.  The  second  day  of  July  1776 
will  be  the  most  memorable  epocha  in  the  history  of  America ; 
to  be  celebrated  hj  succeeding  generations  as  the  great  anni- 
versary festival,  commemorated  as  the  day  of  deliverance,  by 
solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  God  Almiglity,  from  one  end  of  the 
continent  to  the  other,  from  this  time  i'orward  forevennore. 

"  You  will  think  me  transported  with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am 
not.^  I  am  well  aware  of  the  toil  and  blood  and  treasure  that 
it  will  cost  us  to  maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and 
defend  the-)  states;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory;  that  the  end  is  worth  all  the  means; 
that  posterity  will  triumph  in  tliat  daya  transaction,  even 
though  we  should  rue  it,  which  I  trust  in  God  we  shall  not." 

The  resolution  of  congress  changed  the  old  thiri .  en  British 
colonies  into  free  and  independent  states.  Tr  remained  t )  set 
forth  the  reason  for  this  act,  and  tbo  imncip^  r,  whifh  the  new 
people  would  own  as  their  guide..  Of  the  ooipniitteo  ap- 
pointed for  that  duty,  Tliomas  Jeiferpon  of  Viiginia  had  re- 
ceived the  largest  number  of  vote.-\  and  was  in  that  numner 
singled  out  to  draft  the  confession  ef  inV:  •".  the  rishig  empire. 
Ho  owed  this  disriuction  to  r.'spcc(  f.jr  the  -olony  which  ho 


■^11 


1776.  INDEPENDENCE  RESOLVED  ON  AND  DECLARED.    443 

represented,  to  the  consummate  ability  of  the  state  papers 
which  he  liad  ah-eady  written,  and  to  that  general  favor  which 
follows  merit,  modesty,  and  a  sweet  disposition ;  l)ut  the  qual- 
ity which  specially  fitted  him  for  the  task  ^v'a8  the  sympathetic 
character  of  his  nature,  hy  which  he  was  able  with  instinctive 
perception  to  read  the  soul  of  the  nation,  and,  having  collected 
its  best  thoughts  and  noblest  feelings,  to  give  them  out  in  clear 
and  bold  words,  mixed  with  so  Kttle  of  himseK  that  his  coun- 
try, as  it  went  along  with  him,  found  nothing  but  what  it 
recognised  as  its  own.  Born  to  an  independent  fortune,  he 
had  from  his  youth  been  an  indefatigable  student.  "  The  glow 
of  one  warm  thought  was  w<jrth  more  to  him  tiiau  money." 
Of  a  hopeful  temperament  and  a  ;  tanquil,  philosophic  cast  of 
mind,  always  temperate  in  his  mode  of  life  and  decorous  in 
his  nrianners,  he  was  a  perfect  master  of  his  passions.  He  was 
of  a  delicate  organization,  and  foiid  of  elegance;  his  tastes 
were  refined ;  laborious  in  his  application  to  business  or  the 
pursuit  of  knowledge,  riusie,  the  most  spiritual  of  all  pleasures 
cf  the  senses,  was  his  favorite  recreation  ;  and  he  took  a  never- 
failing  delight  in  the  varied  beauty  of  rural  life,  building  him- 
self a  home  in  the  loveliest  region  of  his  native  state.  Ho 
was  a  skilful  horseman,  and  with  elastic  step  would  roam  the 
mountains  on  foot.  The  range  of  his  studies  was  very  wide ; 
lie  M-as  not  unfamiliar  with  the  literature  of  Greece  and  Rome ; 
had  an  aptitude  for  mathematics  and  mechanics,  and  loved 
especially  the  natural  sciences;  scorning  nothing  but  meta- 
physics. British  governors  and  ofiicials  had  introduced  into 
Williamsburg  the  prov;.leut  free-thinking  of  Englishmen  of 
that  century,  and  Jefferson  had  grown  up  in  its  atmosphere ; 
he  was  liot  only  r  hater  of  priestcraft  and  superstition  and 
bigotry  and  intolerance,  he  was  tliought  to  be  indilferent  to 
religion ;  yA  his  'ustinct?.  all  inclined  him  to  trace  e/ery  fact 
to  a  general  lav  ,  o'hI  to  put  faith  in  ideal  tnith ;  the  world  of 
the  senses  did  tiot  bound  his  asi)iratioi  :;,  and  he  believed  more 
than  he  hi-r, .....'  was  aware  of.  He  was  an  idealist  in  his  ha]}it3 
01  thoiiglit  and  life,  and  he  was  kept  so,  in  spite  of  circum- 
stances, bv  the  irresistible  bent  of  his  character.  He  had  irreat 
power  in  masiering  details  as  well  as  in  searching  for  general 
principles.     His  profession  was  that  of  the  law,  in  whic!ihe 


■ 

F,| 

^^Bi. 

,;  M 

I^Bl 

I,: 

444      AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFEN^OE.    ep.  hi. 


on.  xxriii. 


was  methodical,  painstaking,  and  successful ;  at  tlie  same  time 
he  pursued  it  as  a  science,  and  was  Avell  read  in  the  law  of 
nature  and  of  nations.  AVhatever  he  had  to  do,  it  was  his 
custom  to  prepare  himself  for  it  carefully ;  and  in  public  life, 
NV^hcn  others  were  at  fault,  they  often  found  that  he  had  already 
hewed  out  the  way;  so  that  in  council  men  willingly  gave  him 
the  lead,  which  he  never  appeared  to  claim,  and  was  always 
able  to  undertake.  But  he  rarely  spoke  in  public,  and  was  loss 
iit  to  engage  in  the  war  of  debate  than  calmly  to  sum  up  its 
conclusions.  It  was  a  beautiful  trait  in  his  character  that  he 
was  free  from  envy ;  he  is  the  constant  and  best  witness  to  the 
greatness  of  John  Adams  as  the  advocate  and  defender  of  in- 
dependence. A  common  object  now  riveted  the  two  statesmen 
together.  At  that  period  Jelferson,  by  the  general  consent  of 
Virginia,  stood  first  among  her  civilians.  Just  thirty-three 
years  old,  married,  and  happy  in  his  family,  affluent,  with  a 
bright  career  before  him,  he  was  no  rash  innovator  by  his  char- 
acter or  his  position ;  if  his  convictions  drove  him  to  denumd 
independence,  it  was  only  because  he  could  no  longer  live  with 
honor  under  the  British  "  constitution,  which  he  still  acknowl- 
edged to  be  better  than  all  that  had  preceded  it."  His  enun- 
ciation of  general  principles  was  fearless,  but  he  was  no 
visionary  devotee  of  abstract  theories;  the  nursling  of  his 
eountrv  olfspring  of  his  time,  he  set  about  the  work  of  a 

practif  sti'  ;snian,  and  the  principles  wliicli  he  set  forth  grew 
so  natuu  out  of  previous  law  and  the  facts  of  the  past  that 
they  stnick  deep  root  and  have  endured. 

The  Dutch  manifesto  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  June  1581, 
renounced  Spanish  sovereignty  "according  to  the  rights  of 
nature."  "•  F.very  man  knows,"  it  said,  "  that  subjects  are  not 
created  by  God  for  princes,  but  princes  for  the  sake  of  their 
subjects.  If  a  prince  endeavors  to  take  from  his  subjects  their 
old  liberties,  privileges,  and  customs,  he  nnist  be  considered  not 
as  a  prince,  but  as  a  tyrant;"  adding,  "and  another  prince 
may  of  right  be  chosen  in  his  place  as  the  head." 

From  the  fulness  of  his  own  mind,  \'"tl)out  consultinir  one 
single  book,  yet  having  in  memory  tiic  e;.'in]ile  of  the  8wisg 
and  the  manifesto  of  the  United  Provinces  of  the  Netherlands, 
Jefferson  drafted  the  declaration,  in  which,  aftei   oiting  the 


1776.  INDEPENDENCE  RESOLVED  CN  AND  DECLARED.    445 

piiinal  principles  of  government,  lie  presentad  tlie  complaints 
of  the  United  States  against  England  in  the  three  classes  of 
the  inicpiitons  use  of  the  royal  prerogative,  the  usurpation  of 
legislative  power  over  America  by  the  king  in  parliament,  and 
the  measures  for  enforcing  the  acts  of  the  British  parliament, 
lie  submitted  the  paper  separately  to  Franklin  and  to  John 
Adams,  accepted  from  each  of  them  one  or  two  verbal,  unim- 
portant corrections,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June  reported 
it  to  congress,  which,  on  the  second  of  July,  immediately  after 
adopting  the  resolution  of  independence,  entered  upon  its  con- 
sideration. During  the  remainder  of  that  day,  and  the  next 
two,  the  language,  the  stateraeivts,  and  tlie  principles  of  the 
paper  were  closely  scanned. 

In  the  indictment  against  George  III.,  Jefferson  had  writ- 
ten: 

"  He  has  waged  cruel  war  against  human  nature  itself,  vio- 
lating its  most  sacred  rights  of  life  and  liberty  in  the  persons 
of  a  difjtant  people  who  never  oft'ended  him,  captivating  and 
canying  them  into  slavery  in  another  hemisphere,  or  to  incur 
miserable  death  in  their  transportation  thither.  This  piratical 
warfare,  the  Ojiprobrium  of  intidel  powers,  is  the  -warfare  of 
the  Christian  king  of  Great  Britain.  Determined  to  keep 
open  a  market  where  men  should  bo  bought  and  sold,  he  has 
prostituted  his  negative  for  sujipressing  every  legislative  at- 
tempt to  prohibit  or  to  restrain  this  execrable  commerce. 
And,  that  this  assemblage  of  horrors  might  want  no  fact  of 
distinguished  dye,  he  is  now  exciting  those  very  people  to  rise 
in  arms  among  us,  and  to  purchase  tliat  liberty  of  which  he  lias 
deprived  them  by  nuirdering  the  people  on  whom  he  also  ob- 
truded them  ;  thus  paying  oif  former  crimes  committed  against 
the  liberties  of  one  people  with  crimes  which  he  urges  them  to 
connuit  against  the  lives  of  another." 

These  words  expressed  ])recisely  what  had  happened  in 
Virginia ;  she,  as  well  as  other  colonies,  had  peraeveringly  at- 
tempted to  repress  the  slave-trade  ;  the  king  had  ]icrseveringly 
used  his  veto  to  protect  it;  the  governor,  clothed  with  the 
king's  authority,  had  invited  slaves  to  rise  against  theu'  mas- 
ters ;  but  it  could  not  be  truly  said  that  all  the  colonies  had 
been  always  without  blame  iu  regard  to  the  commerce,  or  that 


'ill 


V:      li|. 


ii    ' 


446       AMERICA  AinrS  FOR  SKLF-DEFENCE.    ki-.  in. ;  cii.  xxviii. 

in  AiiuM-icii  it  had  buoii  oxchisivt'ly  flic  ^uilt  of  tlic  kiiijr  of 
(Jmit  I'ritaiii;  and  therefore  the  severe  strictures  on  the  use 
of  the  king's  nejj^ativo,  so  Jefferson  wrote  for  the  guidance  of 
history,  "  were  disapproved  by  some  southern  gentlemen,  whoso 
reflections  were  not  yet  matured  to  the  full  abhorrence  of  that 
traffic;  and  tlio  otfensive  expressions  were  innnediately  yield- 
ed."    Congress  had  already  manifested  its  own  sentiments  by 
the  absolute  prohibition  of  tiic  slave-trade ;  and  that  prohibition 
was  then  respected  in  every  one  of  the  thirteen  states,  includ- 
ing South  Carolina  and  Georgia.     This  is  the  occasion  when 
the  slave-trade  was  first  branded  as  a  piracy.     Many  stat(;smen, 
among  them  Edmund  Pendleton,  president  of  the  Virginia  con- 
vonti(»n,  always  regretted  that  the  passage  had  been  stricken  out ; 
and  the  earnestness  of  the  denunciation  lost  its  author  no  friends. 
All  other  changes  and  omissions  in  Jefferson's  paper  were 
either  insignificant  or  much  for  the  better,  rendering  its  lan- 
guage more  terse,  more  (lispassi,)nate,  and  more  exact;  and,  in 
the  evening  of  the  fourth  day  of  July,  N(v,v  York  still  abstain- 
ing from  the  vote,  twelve  states,  without  one  negative,  agreed 
to  this  ''Declaration  by  the  Eeprt-sentatives  of  the   United 
States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled  : 

"  When,  in  tlio  course  of  hmnan  events,  it  becomes  nooea- 
sary  for  one  peojile  to  dissolve  the  jiolitiinil  bands  which  have 
connected  them  with  another,  and  to  assume,  among  the  pitwei-s 
of  the  earth,  the  separate  and  ecpial  station  to  which  the  laws 
of  nature  and  of  nature's  God  entitle  them,  a  decent  resjiect  to 
the  opinions  of  mankind  requires  that  they  should  declare  tlio 
causes  whicli  impel  them  to  the  separation. 

"We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  arc 
created  e(pial ;  tliat  they  are  endowed  by  their  (Creator  with 
certain  unalienable  lights;  that  among  these,  are  life,  liberty, 
and  the  pursuit  of  hapi)iness.  That,  to  secure  these  ritrhts,  irov- 
ernments  are  mstituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  powera 
from  the  consent  of  the  governed ;  that,  whenever  any  form  of 
govermnent  becomes  destructive  of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right 
of  the  people  to  alter  or  to  abolish  it,  and  to  institute  a  new  gov- 
ernment, laying  its  foundation  on  such  principles,  and  organiz- 
ing its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  likely 
to  effect  tlieir  safety  and  happiness.     Prudence,  indeed,  will 


1770.  INDEPENDENCE  KI'SOLVED  ON  AND  DECLARED.    447 

dictate  that  govorninontH  loiior  eHta1)li.she(l,  sliould  not  ho 
chaTi«,'ed  for  light  and  traii.siont  causes;  and,  accordinj^ly,  all 
experience  hatli  shown,  tliat  nianldnd  are  more  disposed  to 
suller,  while  evils  are  sufTerahle,  than  to  n«i;ht  themselves  hy 
aho]ishin<r  tlio  forms  to  which  they  are  accustomcjd.  But, 
when  a  long  train  of  ahuses  and  usurpations,  pursuing  invari- 
ahly  tlie  same  object,  evinces  a  design  to  reduce  them  under 
absolute  des[)()tism,  it  is  their  right,  it  is  their  duty,  to  throw 
off  such  government,  and  to  provide  new  guards  for  their  fu- 
ture security.  Such  luus  been  the  patient  suiferance  of  these 
colonies,  and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which  constrains  them 
to  alter  their  form(>r  systems  of  government.  The  history  of 
the  present  king  of  (Jreat  Uritain  is  a  history  of  re])eated  inju- 
ries and  usurpations,  all  having,  in  direct  object,  the  establish- 
ment  of  an  absolute  tyranny  over  these  slates.  To  prove  this, 
lot  facts  be  submitted  to  a  candid  world  : 

"  He  has  refused  his  assent  to  laws  the  most  wholesome  and 
necessary  for  the  public  good. 

"  He  has  forl)id<len  his  governors  to  ])ass  laws  of  innnediato 
and  pressing  im|)or(ance,  unless  sus])ended  in  their  operation 
till  his  assent  should  be  obtained;  and,  when  so  suspended,  ho 
has  utterly  neglected  to  attend  to  them. 

"  He  has  refused  to  pass  other  laws  for  the  accommodation 
of  large;  districts  of  peoi)le,  uuleas  those  peo[)le  would  relin- 
<piish  the  right  of  rej)reseiitation  in  the  legislatiu'c ;  a  right  in- 
estimable to  them,  and  formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

"  Ho  has  called  together  legislative  bodies  at  i)laces  umisual, 
uncomfortable,  and  distant  from  the  de])ository  of  their  public 
records,  for  the  sole  puri)ose  of  fatiguing  them  into  comi)liance 
with  his  measures. 

"  He  has  dissolved  representaiive  lntuscs  repeatedly  for  op- 
posing, M-ith  manly  tirm-ness,  his  invasions  on.  the  rights  of  the 
people. 

"  He  has  refused  for  a  long  time  after  such  dissolutions  to 
cause  others  to  be  elected;  whereby  the  legislative  ])owers,  in- 
capable of  annihilation,  have  returned  to  the  i)eople  at  large 
for  their  exercise ;  the  State  reu/aining,  in  the  mean  time,  ex- 
pose<l  to  all  the  dangers  of  invasion  from  without,  and  convul 
sions  within. 


■h 


t 

1 
■1' 


if' 


i,  t 


'f 


it 


448       AMERICA  ARMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE,    ep.  in.;  on.  xxviii. 

"  He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  tlio  population  of  tlicso 
States;  for  that  purpose  ohstructing  the  laws  for  naturalization 
of  foreigners ;  refusing  to  pass  otliers  to  eneoui-age  their  migra- 
tions hither,  and  raising  the  conditions  of  new  appropriations 
of  lands. 

"  He  has  c'strncted  tlie  administration  of  justice  by  refus- 
ing his  assent  to  laws  for  establisliing  judiciary  powers. 

"  lie  has  made  jiulges  dependent  on  his  will  alone  for  the 
tenure  of  their  offices,  and  the  amount  and  payment  of  their 
salaries. 

"  He  has  erected  a  multitude  of  new  offices,  and  sent  hither 
swarms  of  officers  to  harass  our  people  and  eat  out  their  sub- 
stance. 

"  He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,  standing  armies, 
without  the  consent  of  our  legislature. 

"  He  has  affected  to  render  the  military  independent  of, 
and  superior  to,  the  civil  ])ower. 

"  He  has  combined,  with  others,"  [that  is,  with  the  lords 
and  commons  of  Britain]  "to  subject  us  to  a  jurisdiction  for- 
eign to  our  constitution,  and  unacknowledged  l,y  our  laws; 
giving  his  assent  to  their  acts  of  i)retended  legislation  : 

"  For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops  among  us  ; 

"  For  protecting  them,  by  a  mock  trial,  from  punishment 
for  any  murders  which  they  should  commit  on  the  iidiabitants 
of  these  States : 

"  For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the  world ; 

"  For  imposing  taxes  on  us  Avithout  our  consent ; 

"  For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  benefits  of  trial 

^y  wy ; 

"  For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  pretended 
offences ; 

^"  For  abolishing  the  fi-ee  system  of  English  laws  in  a  neigh- 
boring province,  establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government, 
and  enlarging  its  boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  ex- 
ample and  fit  instnnnent  for  introducing  the  same  abs^.luto 
rule  into  these  colonies  ; 

"  For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our  most  valu- 
able laws,  and  altering,  fundamentally,  the  forms  of  our  gov- 
ernments ; 


1770.  INDEPENDENCE  RESOLVED  ON  AND  DECLARED.    449 

"  For  snspciuliiig  our  owti  lofjjisliitiiros,  and  declaring  tliora- 
selves  iuvcstod  with  powor  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  easea  what- 
soever. 

"  lie  has  abdicated  government  liere  by  declaring  us  out 
of  his  jn-otection,  and  waging  war  against  us. 

"  lie  lias  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts,,  burnt  our 
towns,  and  destroyed  the  lives  of  our  jx-ople. 

"  lie  is,  jit  this  time,  trans])()rting  large  armies  of  foreign 
mercenaries  to  complcjte  the  works  of  death,  desolation,  and 
tyranny,  already  begun,  with  circumstance .  of  cruelty  and  per- 
iidy  scarcely  paralleled  in  the  most  barbarous  ages,  and  totally 
unworthy  the  head  of  a  civilized  nation. 

"  He  has  constrained  our  fellow-citizens,  taken  captive  on 
the  high  seas,  to  bear  arms  against  their  country,  to  become 
the  executioners  of  their  friends  and  brethren,  or  to  fall  them- 
selves by  their  hands. 

"  He  has  excited  domcr.tic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has 
endeavored  to  bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  onr  frontiers,  the 
merciless  Indian  savages,  whose  known  rule  of  warfare  is  an 
undistingin'shed  destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions. 

"  In  every  stage  of  these  oppressions,  we  liave  petitioned 
for  redress,  in  the  most  Inunblc  terms ;  our  re])eatcd  petitions 
liave  been  answered  ordy  by  repeated  injury.  A  prince,  whose 
character  is  thus  inarked  by  every  act  which  may  define  a 
tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  five  ])eople. 

"  Xor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attentions  to  our  British 
brethren.  We  have  warned  them,  from  time  to  time,  of  at- 
tempts by  their  legislature  to  extend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdic- 
tion over  us.  We  have  reminded  them  of  the  circumstances 
of  our  emigration  and  settlement  here.  We  have  appealed  to 
their  native  jvistieo  and  magnanimity,  and  wo  have  conjured 
them,  by  the  ties  of  our  common  kindred,  to  disavow  these 
usurpations,  which  would  inevitably  interrupt  our  connections 
and  correspondence.  They,  too,  have  been  deaf  to  the  voice 
of  justice  and  of  consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  acquiesce 
in  the  necessity  which  denounces  our  separation,  and  hold 
them,  as  we  hold  the  rest  of  mankind,  enemies  in  war,  in  peace, 
friends. 

"  AVc,  therefore,  the  rcprcscnuitivv'S  of  tlio  United  States 

VOL.    IV.— '.'9 


'  I 


450       AMERICA  AUMS  FOR  SELF-DKFi: N'CK.     i;...  m. ;  cm.  xxviii. 

OK  Amki;ii'A,  in  (Iknkual  Concjukss  iissiMiiI)IcMl,iv|)|)(';iliii^^  to  tlio 
{Siipiviiit' .hidgo  of  the  world  for  Mie  nrtitiido  of  our  iiitoii- 
tioiis,  do,  ill  till)  name,  uiul  by  the  aiitliority  of  tlio  ^ood  people 
of  these  colonies,  solcniiily  ])ul)lisli  and  declare,  Tliat  tliese 
United  Colonies  are,  and  of  ripjlit  on<:;lit  to  he,  iukk  and  indk- 
I'KNDKNT  sTATKs;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  alle«,n'anee  to 
the  Ih'itish  erown,  and  that  all  political  connexion  between 
them  and  the  state  of  (Jreat  IJritain  is,  and  on:>;ht  to  be,  totally 
dissolved;  and  that,  as  Kkici:  and  Indkpkndknt  8ta.tks,  they 
have  full  powi-r  to  levy  war,  conclude  |)eace,  contract  alliances, 
establish  conimerce,  and  to  do  nil  other  acts  and  thin_<^s  which 
Indkpkndknt  Statks  ni.iy  of  ri_i,dit  do.  And,  for  the  support 
of  this  declaration,  with  a  hrni  reliance  on  the  ])rotection  of 
Divine  PuoviDKNei;,  we  mutually  i)le(l^'e  to  each  other  our 
lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor." 

This  immortal  state  pai)er  was  "the  genuine  elTusion  of  the 
soul  of  the  country  at  that  time,"  the  revela.    in  of  its  iiihid, 
when,  in  itsy(»uth,  its  enthusiasm,  its  sublime  confrontin<,'  of 
danger,  it  rose  to  the  highest  creative  powers  of  which  man  is 
capable.     The  bill  of  rights  which  it  promulgates  is  of  rights 
that  are  older  than  human  institutions,  and  sjiring  from  the 
eternal  justice.     Two  political  tlu'oi-ies  divided  the  world:  one 
founded  the  eoiumonweaUh  on  the  advantage  of  the  state,  the 
policy  of  expediency,  the  other  on  the  immutable  principles  of 
morals;  the  new  republic,  as  it  took  its  place  among  the  powers 
of  the  world,  proclaimed  its  faith  in  the  truth  and  reality  and 
unchangeableness  of  freedom,  virtue,  and  right.     The  heart  of 
Jeil'erson  in  writing  thi^  declaration,  and  of  congress  in  adojiting 
it,  beat  for  all  humanity;  tlie  assertion  of  right  was  made  for 
the  entire  Avorld  of  mankind  and  all  coming  generations,  with- 
out any  exception  whatever;  for  the  ])ro])ositi()n  which  admits 
of  exceptions  can  never  bo  self-evident.     As  it  was  ]iut  forth 
in  the  name  of  the  ascendent  people  of  that  time,  it  was  sure 
to  make  the  circuit  of  the  world,  passing  everywhere  through 
the  despotic  countries  of  Europe ;  and  the  astonished  nations, 
as  they  read  that  all  men  are  created  e(pial,  started  out  of  their 
lethargy,  like  those  who  have  been  exiles  from  cliildhood,  when 
they  suddenly  hear  the  dimly  remembered  accents  of  their 
mother  tongue. 


1770.  iNDlil'KNDENCK  liKSOLVEI)  ON   AND  DECLARED.    451 

III  tlio  next  ])IiUH',  t!i(!  «l('('larat'u)n,  avf»i(lin*ij  Hjiockmn  iiiid 
vagiio  j>;('iu'r!iliti(S,  ^nmiids  itself  with  unxiouH  ciiro  upon  tlio 
juiHt,  and  rc'-otu-iicH  rigiit  and  fact.  Of  uiuver.sjd  i>rinci[)IeH 
on<)ii<;h  18  repeated  to  ])r<)vc  that  America  chose  for  hor  own 
that  Kjstem  of  politics  which  rccop^niHcs  the  rul(!  of  eternal  jim- 
tieo;  and  independence  is  vindicated  i)y  tin;  application  of  that 
rule  to  the  •;iicvoiiH  instructions,  laws,  and  acts,  j)roceeding 
from  the  kiiifj;,  in  the  exercise  of  his  prero^ativ{i,  or  in  concur- 
rence with  the  lonis  and  connnons  of  (treat  Uritain.  Tiie 
colonies  professed  to  (hive  hack  innovations,  and  not,  with 
rovinjif  zeal,  to  overturn  .dl  linditional  inequalities;  they  wore 
no  rchels  afi;ainst  the  past,  of  which  they  knew  the  present  to 
be  the  child;  with  all  the  jii;lad  anticipations  of  ^'reatness  tiiat 
hroke  forth  from  the  j)ro|)hetic  soul  of  the  youthful  nation, 
they  took  their  point  of  departure  from  the  world  as  it  was. 
They  did  not  declare  against  monarchy  itself;  they  sought  no 
general  overthrow  of  all  kings,  no  universal  systeiu  of  re|)ub- 
licri ;  nor  did  they  clieri  !i  in  their  hearts  a  lurking  hatred 
against  princes.  Till  within  a  few  years  or  months,  loyalty  to 
the  house  of  Hanover  had  been  to  them  another  naino  for  the 
love  of  civil  and  religious  liherty ;  the  Hritish  constitution,  the 
best  system  that  had  ever  bcin  devised  for  the  security  of  lib- 
erty and  property  by  a  representative  government.  Xeither 
Franklin,  nor  Washington,  nor  .lohii  Adams,  nor  JelTerson, 
nor  day,  had  ever  expressed  a  ])rel"erence  for  a  republic.  The 
voi(!es  that  rose  for  inde[)en(lence  s[)oke  al'"o  for  alliances  with 
kings.  The  sovereignty  of  (Jeorge  111.  was  renounced, not  be- 
cause he  was  a  king,  but  because  he  was  deemed  to  be  "a 
tyrant." 

The  insurgents,  as  they  took  up  self-goveniinent,  manifest- 
ed no  im[)atience  at  the  recollection  of  having  been  ruled  by  a 
royal  line,  no  eagerness  to  blot  out  memorials  of  their  former 
state;  they  sent  forth  no  T  igh  Peter  to  recommend  to  the 
mother  country  the  abolition  of  monarchy,  which  no  one  seems 
to  have  proposed  or  to  have  wished ;  in  tlie  moment  of  revolu- 
tion in  America,  thoy  did  not  counsel  the  English  to  undertake 
a  revolution.  The  republic  was  to  America  a  godsend ;  it 
came,  though  unsought,  because  society  contained  the  elements 
of  no   other  organization.     Here,  and   in   that  century  here 


' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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1.4 


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12.0 

1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
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23  WE'T  MAIN  STREET 

WEBS.  ER,  NY.  14580 

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453      AMERICA  AIIMS  FOR  SELF-DEFENCE. 


EP.  III. ;  on.  XXVIII. 


■I  ii 


1 

I 


1       t 


only,  wius  a  people  wliicli,  hy  its  education  and  large  and  long 
experience,  was  prepared  to  act  as  the  depositary  and  carrier 
of  all  political  power.  America  developed  her  choice  from 
within  herself;  and  therefore  it  is  that,  conscious  of  foIlowin<>- 
an  iimer  law,  she  never  made  herself  a  propagandist  of  lici- 
system,  where  the  conditions  of  success  were  wanting. 

Finally,  the  declaration  was  not  oidy  the  announcement  of 
the  birth  of  a  people,  but  the  establisliment  of  a  national  gov- 
ernment ;  a  most  imperfect  one,  it  is  true,  but  still  a  govern- 
ment, in  conformity  with  the  limited  constituent  powers  which 
each  colony  had  conferred  upon  its  delegates  in  congress.  The 
war  was  no  longer  a  civil  war;  ihntain  was  become  to  the 
United  States  a  foreign  country.  Every  former  subject  of  the 
British  king  in  the  tliirtoeu  colonies  now  owed  primary  alle^-i- 
ance  to  the  dynasty  of  the  people,  and  became  a  citizen  of  the 
new  republic ;  except  in  tliis,  everything  remained  as  before ; 
every  man  retained  his  riglits;  the  colonies  did  not  dissolve 
into  a  state  of  nature,  nor  did  the  new  people  undertake  a  so- 
cial revolution.  Tlie  management  of  the  internal  police  and 
government  was  carefully  reserved  to  the  separate  states,  Avhich 
could,  each  for  itself,  enter  upon  the  career  of  domestic  re- 
forms. But  the  states  which  were  henceforth  independent  of 
Britain  were  not  independent  of  one  another:  the  United 
States  of  America,  presenting  themselves  to  mankind  as  one 
people,  assumed  powers  over  war,  peace,  foreign  alliances,  and 
commerce. 

The  declaration  was  not  signed  by  the  members  of  congress 
on  the  daj  on  which  it  was  agreed  to ;  but  ic  was  duly  autlien- 
ticated  by  the  president  and  secretary,  and  published  to  the 
world.  The  nation,  Avhen  it  made  the  choice  of  its  great  anni- 
versary, selected  not  the  day  of  the  resolution  of  independence 
when  it  closed  the  past,  but  that  of  the  declaration  of  the  prin- 
ciples on  which  it  opened  its  new  career. 


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